Biology I · Bacteria and Viruses
Virginia SOL BIO.4
Virginia SOL BIO.4 is part of the Bacteria and Viruses strand in Biology I (Science). Under this Standards of Learning objective, students investigate the effects of bacteria and viruses on living systems. Below is what BIO.4 covers in plain language, the specific skills it is assessed on, the key concepts to review, and how to practice BIO.4 for the Virginia SOL test.
What SOL BIO.4 means
Investigate the effects of bacteria and viruses on living systems.
Practice Biology I SOL questions
Free Biology I questions from official Virginia Department of Education released SOL tests — good practice while you work on BIO.4 and the rest of the course. Pick an answer to check it instantly, or open “Show answer” to review.
1. When an animal eats, food stays in the stomach for a period of time. When a unicellular organism, such as Paramecium, takes in food, the food is contained in which organelle?
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Answer: D — Vacuole
2. The table below summarizes heart chamber characteristics in different animals: Fish: 1 atrium, 1 ventricle, no separation of ventricles Bird: 2 atria, 2 ventricles, total separation of ventricles Turtle: 2 atria, 1 ventricle, partial separation of ventricles Frog: 2 atria, 1 ventricle, no separation of ventricles Dog: 2 atria, 2 ventricles, total separation of ventricles Which type of animal is most closely related to a mammal, based on heart structure?
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Answer: B — Bird
3. Animals that are the least specialized generally stand the best chance of survival when the environment suddenly and drastically changes because they are able to —
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Answer: A — adapt to different conditions
4. Ascidians are sac-like marine organisms. Their larvae have well-developed brains and dorsal nerve cords. This suggests that ascidians should be classified with the —
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Answer: A — chordates
Skills you’ll practice for BIO.4
- Explain how viruses depend on a host for metabolic processes.
- Compare modes of reproduction and replication between bacteria and viruses.
- Compare the structures and functions of bacteria and viruses.
- Explain the role of bacteria and viruses in other organisms and the environment.
- Explain how the germ theory of infectious disease is supported by evidence.
Key concepts covered by BIO.4
- viruses
- host dependency
- metabolic processes
- obligate parasites
- bacterial reproduction
- viral replication
- binary fission
- lytic cycle
- lysogenic cycle
- bacterial structure
- viral structure
- capsid
- cell wall
- genetic material
- bacteria in environment
- viruses in environment
- symbiosis
- pathogens
- decomposers
- germ theory
- infectious disease
- Koch's postulates
- evidence-based theory
How to study and practice SOL BIO.4
Start with a quick diagnostic to see whether BIO.4 is already solid, then work each skill above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see our Virginia SOL practice tests guide and how to study for the SOL test.
Frequently asked questions about SOL BIO.4
What is Virginia SOL BIO.4?
SOL BIO.4 is a Biology I Standard of Learning in the Bacteria and Viruses strand. It expects students to investigate the effects of bacteria and viruses on living systems.
What skills does SOL BIO.4 cover?
SOL BIO.4 is assessed on 5 skills: explain how viruses depend on a host for metabolic processes; compare modes of reproduction and replication between bacteria and viruses; compare the structures and functions of bacteria and viruses; explain the role of bacteria and viruses in other organisms and the environment; explain how the germ theory of infectious disease is supported by evidence.
What strand of Biology I is SOL BIO.4 in?
SOL BIO.4 belongs to the Bacteria and Viruses reporting strand of the Biology I Virginia Standards of Learning.
How do I study and practice for SOL BIO.4?
Start with a diagnostic to see whether BIO.4 is already solid, then work the 5 skills above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see the Virginia SOL practice tests guide.