中山大学《细胞生物学》思考题 03年英文思考题.docVIP

Testing Thinking of Cell Biology 2003 Testing and Thinking(9-8-2003) 1. For each of the following statements about water, decide whether the statement is true and describes a property that makes water a desirable component of cells (T); is true but describes a property that has no bearing on water as a cellular constituent (X); or is false (F). For each true statement, indicate a possible benefit to living organisms. (a) Water is a polar molecule and hence an excellent solvent for polar compounds. (b) Water can be formed by the reduction of molecular oxygen (02). (c) The density of water is less than the density of ice. (d) The molecules of liquid water are extensively hydrogen-bonded to one another. (e) Water does not absorb visible light. (f) Water is odorless and tasteless. (g) Water has a high specific heat. (h) Water has a high heat of vaporization. Answers for (9-8-2003) 1. (a) T; living organisms are essentially aqueous solutions containing many kinds of molecules, most of which are polar and hence readily soluble in water. (b) T; oxygen is the ultimate electron acceptor in cellular respiration, with water as the product. (c) F; the density of ice is less than that of water, thereby ensuring that ice will float on the surface of a body of water, where it will melt readily if the temperature of the surrounding air rises above the freezing point. (d) T; this property explains the high specific heat and high heat of vaporization and hence the capacity of water to “buffer cells and organisms against temperature changes. (e) T; this property of water allows light to penetrate readily, such that submerged photosynthetic organisms (or parts of organisms) can receive sunlight. (f) X; the lack of odor or taste is probably not a strategic advantage to most organisms. (g) T; high specific heat means that much heat is required to increase the temperature, which effectively “buffers cells and organisms against temperature changes in response to changes in temperat