Deck 30: The Evolution and Diversity of Modern Gymnosperms and Angiosperms

Question 1

Secondary metabolites are:

A) sugars
B) lipids
C) proteins
D) nucleic acids
E) All of the choices provided are incorrect.

Answer 1

All of the choices provided are incorrect.

Question 2

Archaeopteris, the first known tree, has all of the following characteristics EXCEPT:

A) occurred in forests
B) contained wood
C) had a eustele
D) had a vascular cambium
E) reproduced by seeds

Answer 2

reproduced by seeds

Question 3

What is the significance of the production of above-ground coralloid roots by cycads that have underground stems?

A) The roots grow in waterlogged soil and they need to protrude into the air in order to respire.
B) The branching of coralloid roots provides greater surface area for absorption of water.
C) It keeps roots above the ground where they cannot be attacked by parasitic nematodes.
D) The roots have mutualistic photosynthetic cyanobacteria that fix nitrogen for the cycad and the cyanobacteria can only survive if they are above ground where they are exposed to light.
E) The soil in which cycads live has a low pH that would kill the roots if they were completely below ground.

Answer 3

The roots have mutualistic photosynthetic cyanobacteria that fix nitrogen for the cycad and the cyanobacteria can only survive if they are above ground where they are exposed to light.

Question 4

Humans suffer from dementia (similar to Alzheimer's disease) if they eat flour made from cycad seeds because:

A) The seeds have high levels of manganese that is a cause of dementia.
B) The seeds contain hallucinogenic drugs similar to LSD that causes dementia.
C) The seeds have enzymes that break down brain tissue causing dementia.
D) The seeds contain the amino acid BMAA that causes dementia.
E) The seeds have enzymes that inhibit absorption of nutrients that are essential for the transmission of nervous impulses in brain cells.

Question 5

Cycads and ginkgos differ from all other seed plants by:

A) having flagellated sperm within the pollen
B) lacking cambium
C) having the sexes separated on different trees
D) being pollinated by wind instead of insects
E) All of the ways mentioned in the other choices are correct.

Question 6

The leaves of ginkgo trees have:

A) unbranched veins
B) forked veins
C) multiply branching veins
D) veins in a netlike pattern
E) veins only around the edges

Question 7

The function of the torus in the walls of tracheids is:

A) allowing the passage of water
B) stopping backflow of water
C) secretion of resin
D) sealing off air bubbles
E) allowing the escape of air

Question 8

The function of pits in the walls of tracheids is:

A) allowing the passage of water
B) stopping backflow of water
C) secretion of resin
D) sealing off air bubbles
E) allowing the escape of air

Question 9

Which of the following statements does NOT describe an attribute of conifer resin?

A) It hardens on contact with air.
B) It forms amber.
C) It traps insects and other organisms.
D) It is an antibiotic and prevents infections.
E) It flows through ducts in the wood and leaves.

Question 10

Which of the following is not an adaptation of conifers to dry or cold conditions?

A) conical shape of tree
B) scalelike or needle-shaped leaves
C) flexible branches
D) waxy cuticle
E) production of resin

Question 11

Which of the following statements best describes the attributes of Welwitschia mirabilis?

A) It has only two leaves.
B) It obtains most of its moisture from fog.
C) It lives under desert conditions.
D) It is a gnetophyte.
E) It has all the attributes listed in the other choices.

Question 12

The term angiosperm refers to:

A) the narrow sperm of angiosperms
B) the enclosure of the seed within a fruit
C) the presence of endosperm
D) the branching of vascular veins
E) none of the other choices provided

Question 13

Which of the following statements best compares the peduncle and receptacle?

A) The peduncle and receptacle are identical, merely two names for the same structure.
B) The peduncle is haploid and the receptacle is diploid.
C) The peduncle is a reproductive part of a flower and the receptacle is a vegetative part.
D) The receptacle is the part of the flower that receives the pollen whereas the peduncle relays sperm to the ovule.
E) The peduncle is the tip of the stem bearing the flower and the receptacle is the base of the flower.

Question 14

Monocots and eudicots diverged about:

A) 500 million years ago
B) 125 million years ago
C) 60 million years ago
D) 10 million years ago
E) very recently

Question 15

Many flowers growing in a cluster along a stem are known as:

A) an inflorescence
B) cauliflory
C) a bouquet
D) a spray
E) none of the other choices provided

Question 16

Seed plants are pollinated by:

A) butterflies
B) birds
C) bats
D) beetles
E) all of the other choices provided

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a terpene?

A) the insect repellent citronella
B) the anti-cancer agent taxol
C) rubber
D) polyvinyl
E) terpentine

Question 18

Which of the following benefits to humans is NOT attributable to phenolics?

A) antioxidants in red wine
B) the flavor of vanilla
C) absorption of ultraviolet radiation
D) the sweetness of honey
E) the taste of chillies

Question 19

Which of the following drugs is NOT an alkaloid?

A) morphine
B) caffeine
C) LSD
D) nicotine
E) heroin

Question 20

Coevolution is:

A) the evolution of coenzymes
B) two species reciprocally influencing each other's evolution
C) random evolution not influenced by natural selection
D) evolution of secondary metabolites according to fixed ratios
E) coordinated evolution of sensory and motor pathways

Question 21

A pollination syndrome is:

A) the synchronous release of pollen by many individuals of wind-pollinated trees
B) specializations of plants that attract a specific kind of pollinator
C) the simultaneous release of two sperm, one to affect fertilization and the other to initiate formation of endosperm
D) a brushlike tongue of hummingbirds to which pollen adheres
E) a series of bristles on the backs of insects to which pollen adheres

Question 22

Which of the following best explains why bees aren't attracted to red flowers?

A) Bees perceive red as a warning signal.
B) Bees can't see red.
C) Red flowers usually are odorless.
D) Both because red flowers are odorless and because bees can't see red.
E) All of the other choices provided are incorrect.

Question 23

If you were highly allergic to bee stings, which of the following would be dangerous for you to do?

A) wear sweet-smelling perfumes
B) wear red shirts
C) wear dark, drab clothing
D) hum as you work
E) None of the choices provided are dangerous.

Question 24

If you have a plant with white flowers that open at night and have a long, narrow floral tube, what kind of pollination agent would you suspect?

A) birds
B) bats
C) moths
D) butterflies
E) bees

Question 25

Trichromatic color vision is best described as:

A) ability to see colors at night
B) ability to see ultraviolet light
C) ability to distinguish blue, green, and red colors
D) ability to see reflected light
E) all of the other choices provided

Question 26

Which of the following is NOT a fruit that has been significantly altered by humans through artificial selection?

A) acorns
B) maize
C) rice
D) wheat
E) gourds

Question 27

Molecular barcodes are:

A) barcodes stamped on vegetables in the supermarket to indicate freshness
B) DNA sequences used to identify and catalog biodiversity
C) radioactively labeled genes used to detect horizontal transfer of genes
D) genetic inversions used to detect crossovers
E) All of the choices provided are incorrect.

Question 28

The fossil record shows that pollen cones of conifers have become increasingly complex through their evolutionary history.

Question 29

All gymnosperms are wind-pollinated.

Question 30

Some conifers shed their leaves seasonally.

Question 31

The fossil record shows that angiosperms evolved directly from the Gnetophytes.

Question 32

Incomplete flowers can be perfect flowers but imperfect flowers cannot be complete flowers.

Question 33

Horizontal gene transfer is restricted to prokaryotes and protists.

Question 34

Secondary metabolites can be used to distinguish between different species of plants.