  We study the interplay between Dirac eigenmodes and center vortices in SU(2)
lattice gauge theory. In particular we focus on vortex-removed configurations
and compare them to an ensemble of configurations with random changes of the
link variables. We show that removing the vortices destroys all zero modes and
the near zero modes are no longer coupled to topological structures. The Dirac
spectrum for vortex-removed configurations in many respects resembles a free
spectrum thus leading to a vanishing chiral condensate. Configurations with
random changes leave the topological features of the Dirac eigensystem intact.
We finally show that smooth center vortex configurations give rise to zero
modes and topological near zero modes.
