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ATI TEAS 7

TEAS Science Study Guide

Build your understanding of body systems, cells, chemistry, and scientific reasoning. Start with a lesson, review the key ideas, then take the lesson quiz.

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30 lessons shown

Body foundations

5 lessons

Support & movement

3 lessons

Regulation & defense

5 lessons

Cells, genes & microorganisms

6 lessons

Chemistry foundations

4 lessons

Solutions & reactions

3 lessons

Scientific investigation

4 lessons

Free Science Practice Questions With Answers

Try these TEAS science questions. Open “Show answer & explanation” to check your answer.

Question 1

What are the monomer (building-block) units of nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA?

  1. Amino acids
  2. Monosaccharides
  3. Nucleotides
  4. Fatty acids
Show answer & explanation

Answer: Nucleotides

Why: Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are polymers built from nucleotide monomers. Amino acids build proteins, monosaccharides build carbohydrates, and fatty acids are components of many lipids.

Question 2

Which accessory organ produces enzymes that digest carbohydrates, proteins, and fats and also secretes bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid entering the small intestine?

  1. Liver
  2. Gallbladder
  3. Pancreas
  4. Spleen
Show answer & explanation

Answer: Pancreas

Why: The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes (amylase, proteases such as trypsin, and lipase) plus bicarbonate that neutralizes the acidic chyme from the stomach. The liver makes bile, the gallbladder stores bile, and the spleen is not a digestive organ.

Question 3

After mRNA is made, protein synthesis (translation) is carried out at which cell structure?

  1. The ribosome
  2. The nucleus
  3. The mitochondrion
  4. The Golgi apparatus
Show answer & explanation

Answer: The ribosome

Why: Translation—assembling amino acids into a protein according to the mRNA codons—occurs at the ribosome. Transcription (making mRNA from DNA) happens in the nucleus, but the mRNA then travels to a ribosome in the cytoplasm for translation.

Question 4

On an mRNA molecule, how many nitrogenous bases make up a single codon, a three-base unit that usually specifies an amino acid (or signals stop)?

  1. One
  2. Two
  3. Three
  4. Four
Show answer & explanation

Answer: Three

Why: A codon is a sequence of three consecutive mRNA bases (e.g., AUG). Each three-base codon specifies one amino acid (or a start/stop signal) during translation.

Question 5

Which large phagocytic white blood cells engulf and digest pathogens and also present antigens to help activate the adaptive immune response?

  1. Red blood cells
  2. Macrophages
  3. Platelets
  4. Osteoclasts
Show answer & explanation

Answer: Macrophages

Why: Macrophages are large phagocytes that engulf pathogens and cellular debris and then present antigens to T cells, linking innate and adaptive immunity. Red blood cells carry oxygen, platelets aid clotting, and osteoclasts break down bone.

Question 6

Redness, heat, swelling, and pain at the site of a wound infection are the classic signs of which nonspecific (innate) immune response?

  1. Antibody production
  2. Vaccination
  3. Inflammation
  4. Acquired immunity
Show answer & explanation

Answer: Inflammation

Why: Inflammation is an innate, nonspecific response marked by redness, heat, swelling, and pain as blood flow increases and immune cells are recruited to the area. Antibody production and acquired immunity are specific (adaptive) responses; vaccination is a way of inducing immunity, not a local reaction.

Question 7

Which structure, commonly called the windpipe, carries air from the larynx down toward the bronchi and lungs?

  1. Esophagus
  2. Trachea
  3. Bronchioles
  4. Pharynx
Show answer & explanation

Answer: Trachea

Why: The trachea (windpipe) is the tube that conducts air from the larynx to the two bronchi. The esophagus carries food to the stomach, the pharynx is the shared throat passage, and bronchioles are the small branches deep within the lungs.

Question 8

During exhalation (breathing out) at rest, what does the diaphragm do?

  1. It contracts and flattens to pull air in
  2. It remains completely motionless during the breath
  3. It relaxes and moves upward, reducing the volume of the thoracic cavity
  4. It secretes surfactant into the alveoli
Show answer & explanation

Answer: It relaxes and moves upward, reducing the volume of the thoracic cavity

Why: During quiet exhalation the diaphragm relaxes and returns to its dome shape, moving upward. This decreases thoracic cavity volume, raises the pressure in the lungs, and pushes air out. Contracting/flattening to increase volume is what happens during inhalation.

Question 9

The kidneys release a hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. What is this hormone?

  1. Insulin
  2. Erythropoietin
  3. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
  4. Pepsin
Show answer & explanation

Answer: Erythropoietin

Why: The kidneys secrete erythropoietin (EPO), which stimulates red blood cell production in the bone marrow. Insulin (from the pancreas) regulates blood glucose, ADH acts on the kidney to conserve water, and pepsin is a stomach digestive enzyme.

Question 10

Which organ in the digestive system is primarily responsible for the absorption of nutrients?

  1. Stomach
  2. Small Intestine
  3. Large Intestine
  4. Esophagus
Show answer & explanation

Answer: Small Intestine

Why: The small intestine (specifically via villi/microvilli) is the primary site for nutrient absorption. The large intestine absorbs water.

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