Background: The lungs of mammals are unique in having alveoli . These are tiny, sac-like structures. Each alveolus is surrounded by a network of very small blood vessels (see Figure below ). Because there are millions of alveoli in each lung, they greatly increase the surface area for gas exchange between the lungs and bloodstream. Human lungs, for example, contain about 300 million alveoli. They give the lungs a total surface area for gas exchange of up to 90 square meters (968 square feet). That’s about as much surface area as one side of a volleyball court!

Situation: David is investigating the breathing process of different organisms. He found that humans have alveoli to help them with gas exchange. He got curious about other organisms that do not have alveoli. To compare these two groups he labeled organisms with alveoli as group A and organisms without alveoli as group B.

Question: Which group would have larger lungs surface area, group A or group B?
Answer: group A

Situation: David is investigating the breathing process of different organisms. He found that humans have alveoli to help them with gas exchange. He got curious about other organisms that do not have alveoli. To compare these two groups he labeled organisms with alveoli as group A and organisms without alveoli as group B.

Question: Which group would have smaller lungs surface area, group A or group B?
Answer: group B

Situation: David is investigating the breathing process of different organisms. He found that humans have alveoli to help them with gas exchange. He got curious about other organisms that do not have alveoli. To compare these two groups he labeled organisms with alveoli as group A and organisms without alveoli as group B.

Question: Would group A have larger or smaller lungs surface area than group B?
Answer: larger

Situation: David is investigating the breathing process of different organisms. He found that humans have alveoli to help them with gas exchange. He got curious about other organisms that do not have alveoli. To compare these two groups he labeled organisms with alveoli as group A and organisms without alveoli as group B.

Question: Would group B have larger or smaller lungs surface area than group A?
Answer: smaller

Situation: David is investigating the breathing process of different organisms. He found that humans have alveoli to help them with gas exchange. He got curious about other organisms that do not have alveoli. To compare these two groups he labeled organisms with alveoli as group A and organisms without alveoli as group B.

Question: Which group most likely have greater gas exchange, group A or group B?
Answer: group A

Situation: David is investigating the breathing process of different organisms. He found that humans have alveoli to help them with gas exchange. He got curious about other organisms that do not have alveoli. To compare these two groups he labeled organisms with alveoli as group A and organisms without alveoli as group B.

Question: Which group most likely have smaller gas exchange, group A or group B?
Answer: group B

Situation: David is investigating the breathing process of different organisms. He found that humans have alveoli to help them with gas exchange. He got curious about other organisms that do not have alveoli. To compare these two groups he labeled organisms with alveoli as group A and organisms without alveoli as group B.

Question: Would group A have greater or smaller gas exchange than group B?
Answer: greater

Situation: David is investigating the breathing process of different organisms. He found that humans have alveoli to help them with gas exchange. He got curious about other organisms that do not have alveoli. To compare these two groups he labeled organisms with alveoli as group A and organisms without alveoli as group B.

Question: Would group B have greater or smaller gas exchange than group A?
Answer: smaller

Situation: David is investigating the breathing process of different organisms. He found that humans have alveoli to help them with gas exchange. He got curious about other organisms that do not have alveoli. To compare these two groups he labeled organisms with alveoli as group A and organisms without alveoli as group B.

Question: Which group would have network of small blood vessels in the lungs, group A or group B?
Answer: group A

Situation: David is investigating the breathing process of different organisms. He found that humans have alveoli to help them with gas exchange. He got curious about other organisms that do not have alveoli. To compare these two groups he labeled organisms with alveoli as group A and organisms without alveoli as group B.

Question: Which group may not have network of small blood vessels in the lungs, group A or group B ?
Answer: group B