BBB Exam.  Part 1 - Multiple Choice Questions

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	Questions	Choose your answer here	Check answers in this column
Questions 1 to 5 are based mainly on Book 1, Behaviour and Evolution.
Q1	Bengalese finches that do not hear the song of an adult male in early life sing an abnormal full song. Choose from the key the word or phrase that is identified with this phenomenon. Select one letter from the answer key.	Differentiation Determination Growth Evolution Sensitive period Imprinting
Q2	Male weaverbirds build more strongly constructed nests in places where they are exposed to strong winds. Select the one correct conclusion from the key. Select one letter from the answer key.	The statement is consistent with the hypothesis that nest building is a fixed action pattern (FAP) in the sense used by Konrad Lorenz. The statement is consistent with the hypothesis that nest building is an unconditioned response. The statement does not provide evidence for or against cognition in weaverbirds. The statement is evidence for cognition in weaverbirds. The statement does not provide evidence for learning in weaverbirds.
Q3	Select from the key the one correct word or phrase that best matches the following definition: The use of a pleasant stimulus (reward) to select, strengthen or weaken a behaviour pattern shown spontaneously by an animal. Select one letter from the answer key.	Classical conditioning Habituation Positive reinforcement Negative reinforcement Operant conditioning Conditional stimulus
Q4	This question consists of two statements, (a) and (b). Decide first whether statements (a) and (b) are each true or false and then, if both are true, decide if statement (b) provides a valid explanation of statement (a). Select the appropriate item from the key. (a) The establishment of a dominance hierarchy can have the effect of reducing the frequency of aggressive interactions in a social group. (b) Dominance relationships between individuals in a group are based on each individual having learned from the results of previous aggressive interactions with other members of the group. Select one letter from the answer key.	Statement (a) is true but statement (b) is false. Statement (b) is true but statement (a) is false. Both statements (a) and (b) are false. Statements (a) and (b) are both true, and (b) provides a valid explanation of (a). Statements (a) and (b) are both true, but (b) does not provide a valid explanation of (a).
Q5	Three groups of rats (1, 2 and 3) were trained over a number of trials to run in a maze for the reward of two seeds each time they reached the goal box (phase 1). The time taken to run the maze was recorded in each trial. In phase 2 of the experiment, the reward of two seeds was then either retained (group 1) or replaced with one seed (group 2) or replaced with a generous portion of a preferred food (mash) (group 3). Choose from the key the change in running speeds seen in phase 2 that would strongly suggest that, in phase 1, the rats had formed an expectancy of the reward. Select one letter from the answer key.	Group 1, no change; group 2, faster; group 3, no change Group 1, slower; group 2, slower; group 3, slower Group 1, slower; group 2, faster; group 3, faster Group 1, no change; group 2, slower; group 3, faster Group 1, slower; group 2, slower; group 3, faster Group 1, no change; group 2, no change; group 3, no change
Questions 6 to 11 are based mainly on Book 2, Neurobiology.
Q6	Select two items from the key that would complete the following sentence correctly. The .............. and the ............ are major structures (i.e. not fibre tracts) in the mammalian brain. Select two letters from the answer key.	Optic radiations Fornix Thalamus Fasciculus Corpus callosum Hippocampus
Q7	This question consists of two statements, (a) and (b). Decide first whether statements (a) and (b) are each true or false and then, if both are true, decide if statement (b) provides a valid explanation of statement (a). Select the appropriate item from the key. (a) Neurons can sum the incoming information from a number of synapses. (b) Synapses, like action potentials, work on an all-or-nothing principle. Select one letter from the answer key.	Statement (a) is true but statement (b) is false. Statement (b) is true but statement (a) is false. Both statements (a) and (b) are false. Statements (a) and (b) are both true, and (b) provides a valid explanation of (a). Statements (a) and (b) are both true, but (b) does not provide a valid explanation of (a).
Q8	Select one item from the key that best describes that time during an action potential when there is no movement of sodium ions (Na+), and when potassium ions (K+) leave the axon. Select one letter from the answer key.	All-or-nothing Depolarization Spike Threshold Repolarization Resting potential
Q9	Choose from the key the three words or phrases that are in the right order to complete the following sentence correctly. When an action potential reaches the presynaptic membrane .............. is released; it moves across the synaptic cleft ............ and interacts with .................. . Select one letter from the answer key.	A vesicle; by itself; a neurotransmitter Neurotransmitter; by diffusion; Na+ A vesicle; down its potential gradient; Na+ Neurotransmitter; by diffusion; a receptor molecule Na+; by diffusion; a receptor molecule Na+; down its potential gradient; a vesicle
Q10	Certain mammalian brain regions are often associated with particular functions. Choose the two most appropriate pairings between mammalian brain regions and functions from the key. Select two letters from the answer key.	cerebellum; motivation thalamus; sensory processing medulla; emotional behaviour aplysia; movement amygdala; sleep hippocampus; memory
Q11	Which two of the items in the key are not part of the immune system? Select two letters from the answer key.	Ganglion cells B-cells Lymphokines Oligodendrocytes White cells Memory cells Small lymphocytes
Questions 12 to 16 are based mainly on Book 3, The Senses and Communication.
Q12	Choose the phrase from the key that correctly describes the response of an 'off'-centre, 'on'-surround retinal ganglion cell to a light shone onto its receptive field. Select one letter from the answer key.	If the light is shone onto the centre and then turned off, the firing rate of the ganglion cell will increase. The firing rate of the ganglion cell will decrease if the light is shone only onto the periphery of the receptive field. It is not possible to say whether the firing rate of the ganglion cell will increase or decrease because the firing rate does not depend on the receptive field. The firing rate of the ganglion cell will decrease if the centres of all the receptive fields of that cell are stimulated. If the light is shone onto the centre and then turned off, the firing rate of the ganglion cell will decrease.
Q13	Which three items in the key are components of speech? Select three letters from the answer key.	Formant Fricative Trophic Basilar membrane Phoneme Tympanum Lateral suppression
Q14	Which one item in the key is not a depth cue? Select one letter from the answer key.	Aerial perspective Occlusion Known size Velocity gradients Shading Lightness contrast
Q15	Which statement in the key best describes the mechanism of action of local anaesthetics? Select one letter from the answer key.	They block transmitter release at chemical synapses. They reduce the threshold of nociceptors. They block sodium channels in the axonal membrane. They inhibit the sodium/potassium pump. They block potassium channels in the cell membrane. They block formation of receptor potentials at all types of receptors.
Q16	Five of the six events listed below (numbered 1-6), are involved in the detection and transduction of a mechanical stimulus by a mechanoreceptor neuron. Choose the one item from the key that describes best the sequence of five events in the order that they occur. 1 Mechanical deformation of the cell membrane 2 Depolarization of the first node of Ranvier 3 Propagation of action potentials in the afferent neuron 4 Opening of voltage sensitive sodium channels 5 Production of a receptor potential 6 Release of acetylcholine Select one letter from the answer key.	l-5-2-4-3 1-4-5-6-3 1-6-5-2-3 1-4-2-5-3 1-5-3-4-2 1-2-4-6-3
Questions 17 to 21 are based mainly on Book 4, Development and Flexibility.
Q17	This question consists of two statements, (a) and (b). Decide first whether statements (a) and (b) are each true or false and then, if both are true, decide if statement (b) provides a valid explanation of statement (a). (a) Sprouting of nearby axons in the peripheral nervous system occurs when an axon is cut. (b) Denervated targets produce nerve growth factor. Select the appropriate item from the key.	Statement (a) is true but statement (b) is false. Statement (b) is true but statement (a) is false. Both statements (a) and (b) are false. Statements (a) and (b) are both true, and (b) provides a valid explanation of (a). Statements (a) and (b) are both true, but (b) does not provide a valid explanation of (a).
Q18	In a transplantation experiment in the axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum, donor blastopore tissue transplanted next to host endodermal tissue did not induce a second embryo. Choose the one correct statement from the key.	Blastopore tissue cannot induce the formation of a second embryo. Endodermal tissue does not respond to messages produced by the blastopore. The axolotl does not have a blastopore. The axolotl does not have endodermal tissue. Transplantation destroys the messages produced by the blastopore.
Q19	Male sphinx moths have a macroglomerular complex in the antennal lobe, whereas females do not. Choose from the key those two animals in which a macroglomerular complex would be found in the adult. All manipulations were done on the animals as pupae. Select two letters from the answer key.	Females whose antennae had been removed Males whose antennae had been removed Females with transplanted female antennae Males with transplanted female antennae Females with transplanted male antennae Males with transplanted male antennae
Q20	Which three of the procedures in the key, if carried out on a chick immediately after passive avoidance training, would result in arnnesia for the task? Select three letters from the answer key.	Injection of a protein synthesis inhibitor into the brain Long term potentiation of the brain Removal of the robustus archistriatalis (RA) nucleus from the brain Injection of an NMDA receptor blocker such as APS into the brain Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain Sub-convulsive electric shock of the brain
Questions 21 to 23 are based mainly on Book 5, Control of Behaviour.
Q21	Consider these two statements, (a) and (b). Decide first whether statements (a) and (b) are each true or false and then, if both are true, decide if statement (b) provides a valid explanation of statement (a). Select the appropriate item from the key. (a) An animal with two equally strong motivations (e.g. to eat and drink) does not dither between behaviours. (b) There is positive feedback within each motivational system. Select one letter from the answer key.	Statement (a) is true but statement (b) is false. Statement (b) is true but statement (a) is false. Both statements (a) and (b) are false. Statements (a) and (b) are both true, and (b) provides a valid explanation of (a). Statements (a) and (b) are both true, but (b) does not provide a valid explanation of (a).
Q22	Consider these two statements, (a) and (b). Decide first whether statements (a) and (b) are each true or false and then, if both are true, decide if statement (b) provides a valid explanation of statement (a). Select the appropriate item from the key. (a) Lever pressing for a reward can be eliminated by dopamine agonists. (b) Dopamine is a neurotransmitter implicated in rewarding behaviour. Select one letter from the answer key.	Statement (a) is true but statement (b) is false. Statement (b) is true but statement (a) is false. Both statements (a) and (b) are false. Statements (a) and (b) are both true, and (b) provides a valid explanation of (a). Statements (a) and (b) are both true, but (b) does not provide a valid explanation of (a).
Q23	Choose the two correct statements from the key. Select two letters from the answer key.	Testosterone causes aggressive behaviour. Stimulation of the hypothalamus can elicit aggressive behaviour. Aggressive behaviour cannot be modified by experience. Removal of the testes in male gerbils eliminates aggression. Adoption of a submissive posture can terminate a fight. Only humans kill conspecifics.
Questions 24 and 25 are based mainly on Book 6, Degeneration, Damage and Disorder.
Q24	In Huntington's disease there is a loss in the ............... of cells that secrete ............... . Select from the key the sequence of words that completes the sentence correctly. Select one letter from the answer key.	striatum;GABA striatum; dopainine septum; GABA substantia nigra; GABA septum; dopamine substantia nigra; dopamine
Q25	Which two of the statements in the key are true? Select two letters from the answer key.	Successful ageing results in decreases in perception, attention and memory. Performance in verbal tests declines dramatically with age. Water loss from the brain is a symptom specific to unsuccessful ageing. A secondary dementia is a dementia associated with some other disease, such as encephalitis. Alzheimer's disease is an autoimmune disease. Copper and lead are only debilitating in excessive quantities.

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