Chem Degree - Biology's book: Freeman Biological Science,hard for me,alternative

I am studying a Chemistry Degree and I have got a Biology subject. The book I am going to be tested on is Freeman's Biological Science.

amazon.com/Biological-Science-MasteringBiology-Package-Edition/dp/0321597966/

However, given my scarce biology knowledge, this book is kind of hard for me to understand at the moment. Moreover, I am not able to get motivated to learn through this book, so, even if ultimately I am going to have to swallow it, I would like to be able to study an easier text first. What would you advice? Also, if there are computer programs that can help, please, feel free to give advice as well. The most important hindrance at this time is motivation, so part of my failure to learn has probably more to do with my own subjective mindstate than with the lack of quality of Freeman's text book. However, sometimes new study material (and the process of ordering it, expecting it, etc.) has been known to boost (at least temporarily) motivation levels back to normal. Other times, there's nothing to do in that regard because it's all about an inner game that's difficult to fix no matter how good are the books you have access to. But let's give it a chance, just for the sake of trying.

The exam will consist of questions such as these:

- What is a Phosphorylation Cascade? How does it happen?


-  Complete these sentences about the last stage in the oxidation of glucose:
The electron transport chain is made of molecules responsible for the oxidation of............. While electrons go from one protein of the chain to another, the energy liberated by .................. is used for ............................. ..... through...................... ............................. ........... Next, a flow of ............................. ............., through the ................... enzymatic complex, catalyzes the formation of........................... from ............................. ..... The oxidation of glucose is completed when the electrons at the end of the chain are ............................. ..... in order to form ............................. .........


- What is Carbon Fixation? Explain the difference between carbon fixation for plants C3 and C4.

- The number of somatic chromosomes in an onion (Allium cepa) is 16. If you look at a cell through a microscope, how can you know whether such cell is at the metaphase stage of mitosis, at the metaphase of the first meiotic division or at the metaphase of the second meiotic division?

- What process are the following terms related to?: starter, helicase, Okazaki fragment and telomerase. Define in two lines each of these terms.

- Given the following nucleotide sequence: 5 ́ AUG AGC UAU CGC ACG CAA ACC CCA AUU 3 ́
a) What kind of nucleic acid does it belong to?
b) How many aminoacids will the peptide that is made from this sequence have?

- What are plasmids? Comment briefly on their use in genetic engineering.



I would like to know what you think. I am absolutely lost and don't know where to start.

Thanks in advance.