Deck 3: Protista, Plantae, and Fungi

Question 1

Cells carry out many chemical processes, some of which produce toxic by-products. If you were designing a cell, which of the following would provide the best method of protecting the cell from its own toxic by-products while allowing it to complete the chemical reactions necessary for life?

A)Modify the cell membrane so that the toxin could diffuse to the outside of the cell but not reenter.
B)Isolate the toxin-producing reactions within an organelle.
C)Improve the photosynthetic process to produce more energy.
D)Devise a noncarbon-based cellular chemistry that does not result in toxin production.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

What adaptive advantage do the numerous projections shown below in the microphotograph of the foraminiferans, a type of zooplankter, confer?

A)predator protection-they are difficult to eat
B)mobility-the projections function like oars
C)buoyancy-the projections reduce the rate of sinking
D)food acquisition-prey items are impaled

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What criteria best characterize membership in the kingdom Protista?

A)A continuous lineage of descent from a common ancestor.
B)A large assortment of unique shared derived traits.
C)A common evolutionary heritage.
D)The inability to meet the characteristics that define each of the remaining eukaryotic kingdoms.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The kingdom Protista is quite diverse and the relationship among its various members is unclear. The best method of clarifying those relationships will require that biologists

A)remove the kingdom from Eukarya and place it in its own domain.
B)match each of the protist traits with the corresponding animal trait of the common ancestor.
C)separate the eukaryotic protists from the prokaryotic protists.
D)create an evolutionary tree for the group using comparative DNA data.

Question 5

Examine the evolutionary tree pictured below.
One prediction based on the arrangement of protists in the illustration is that the DNA of the

A)green algae would share more in common with the plants than with the diplomonads.
B)ciliates and euglenoids would be more similar to one another than any other protist.
C)diplomonads would constitute a large percentage of the DNA of all other protists.
D)All of the above predictions are reasonable.

Question 6

Protists may superficially resemble organisms in the other kingdoms; one exception is the kingdom _____, whose members do not resemble protists in any meaningful way.

A)Bacteria
B)Fungi
C)Plantae
D)Animalia

Question 7

Although exceptions exist, reproduction in most eukaryotes involves

A)two individuals combining DNA during the formation of a new organism.
B)one individual dividing to make two identical organisms.
C)two individuals fusing to form one organism.
D)the cells of an individual dividing.

Question 8

In comparison to eukaryotes, prokaryotes are smaller but have a higher surface area to volume ratio; why might this be advantageous?

A)The smaller size allows prokaryotes to use smaller food items.
B)Since they lack internal storage compartments, prokaryotes need to eliminate wastes and secure resources quickly if they are to remain competitive.
C)The smaller size improves the chances of prokaryotes being overlooked by predatory eukaryotes.
D)The proportional increase in cell membrane improves the ability of prokaryotes to sense and respond to external stimuli within their environment.

Question 9

The most ancient eukaryotic fossils are similar to red algae, a type of _____abundant today.

A)fungi
B)bacteria
C)protist
D)plant

Question 10

Most of the cells of a multicellular eukaryote are genetically identical yet may become specialized for specific tasks; how can these differences in cell function be explained?

A)Environmental gradients across the body of the organism model the cell in unique ways.
B)Each specialized cell uses genes that are not expressed in other cells, thus constructing unique proteins that affect the appearance of the cell.
C)Cells of different organisms, each genetically distinct, must combine to produce multicellular assemblies.
D)Cells absorb differentiating substances from the environment that cause them to adapt new functions and appearances.

Question 11

The dependence on sexual reproduction in the more complex eukaryotes suggests a greater number of benefits than asexual reproduction; one example is the

A)greater genetic variability between parents and offspring.
B)increase in the number of potential mates.
C)speed of reproduction and the opportunistic colonization of newly located habitat.
D)specialization of gender roles within the population.

Question 12

Resolving the relationship between the various kingdoms has been challenging because species often resemble one another; for example, the kingdom _____ contain some organisms that are animal-like and others that are plantlike.

A)Bacteria
B)Fungi
C)Archaea
D)Protista

Question 13

Biologists hypothesize several advantages for the larger cell size typically observed in eukaryotes, including

A)the storage of food.
B)a larger selection of potential prey for predatory species.
C)improved defensive capabilities against predatory species.
D)all of the above

Question 14

Protists are not considered to represent a complete evolutionary lineage because

A)there are three lineages within the group.
B)they evolved long ago.
C)they evolved recently.
D)there is only one lineage within the group.

Question 15

The single-celled protists are often mobile, moving within the environment by means of

A)pseudopodia.
B)cilia.
C)flagella.
D)all of the above

Question 16

Eukaryotes display the earliest version of sexual reproduction, whereby

A)separate male and female individuals within the same species mate.
B)females of one eukaryotes species mate with males of another eukaryotes species.
C)special cells called gametes fuse together to produce a new individual.
D)an individual splits into two individuals that then mate with one another.

Question 17

The evolutionary tree below illustrates the hypothesized relationships among the six kingdoms and the three domains.
Many biologists have suggested revising the kingdom Protista. One current problem with the protists, as shown in the figure, is that

A)protists are single-celled organisms and should be in a separate domain.
B)the cells of protists contain nuclei and organelles.
C)some protists, like the red and green algae, are more closely related to plants than to the other protists they are currently grouped with.
D)chlorophyll would need to evolve independently several times to account for the distribution of photosynthetic groups.

Question 18

Many biologists have suggested revising the kingdom Protista. One current problem with the Protista, as shown in the figure below, is that

A)protists are single-celled organisms and should be grouped with the bacteria or archaeans.
B)the cells of protists contain nuclei and organelles.
C)the current classification model does not reveal that plants evolved from protist ancestors.
D)the organisms currently grouped as protists do not share a recent common ancestor.

Question 19

Note the location of the air bladders in the illustration below of the kelp; how might these structures represent an adaptive advantage?

A)Kelp can live in deeper water, more distant from the surface, by storing carbon dioxide for future photosynthesis.
B)The bladders act like root nodules in terrestrial plants, housing the various organisms that convert dissolved nitrogen into forms usable by the kelp.
C)By acting as floats, the bladders aid in orienting the photosynthetic cells within the blade toward the surface and sunlight.
D)Waste gases can be stored within the bladders rather than polluting the habitat of the kelp.

Question 20

In addition to a process similar to binary fission, some eukaryotes can also reproduce asexually by

A)hermaphroditism.
B)releasing gametes.
C)the formation of zoospores.
D)all of the above

Question 21

As a major plant group the bryophytes are characterized by

A)the absence of vascular tissue.
B)the absence of seed production.
C)a flagellated sperm.
D)all of the above

Question 22

Which statement best summarizes the adaptive value of xylem?

A)Xylem is specialized for transporting food molecules like sugar.
B)Xylem is the reinforcing protein that in combination with cellulose allows plants to grow vertically.
C)Xylem cells open and close to admit carbon dioxide into the leaf during photosynthesis.
D)Xylem is specialized for transporting water and dissolved nutrients.

Question 23

Which statement best summarizes the adaptive value of phloem?

A)Phloem is specialized for transporting water and dissolved nutrients.
B)Phloem is specialized for transporting food molecules like sugar.
C)Phloem forms the root structures that house symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
D)None of the above describe phloem.

Question 24

Which protist life strategy is matched with the appropriate nutritional mode?

A)phytoplankton-photoautotroph
B)zooplankton-photoautotroph
C)decomposer-chemoautotroph
D)endosynbiont-chemoheterotroph

Question 25

Some plants rely on nocturnal bats for pollination rather than insects; in what way might these plants differ from those pollinated by insects?

A)The flowers open at night and are closed during the day.
B)They would have the brightest petal colors.
C)The stamen would be located at the base of the receptacle.
D)All of the above are true.

Question 26

What capability did the development of a vascular system provide?

A)Greater efficiency at capturing energy from sunlight.
B)Greater efficiency for nutrient transport and structural support.
C)It permitted plant life to establish on land.
D)It allowed the developing embryo to remain protected until better growth conditions became available.

Question 27

The arrival of a pollen grain on the carpel of a flower or the scale of a female cone is termed

A)fertilization.
B)pollination.
C)germination.
D)vascularization.

Question 28

Life on Earth appears to have began in the water; the first organisms believed to colonize the land were

A)bacteria.
B)plants.
C)fungi.
D)animals.

Question 29

No single characteristic is sufficient to describe a kingdom; for example, plants and some bacteria share in common

A)the ability to photosynthesize.
B)the presence of a cell wall and the absence of a plasma membrane.
C)a heterotrophic lifestyle.
D)the ability to reproduce sexually.

Question 30

During a red tide

A)air pollution turns the sunrise and sunset bright red, which, in turn, makes beaches appear red.
B)fish die from water pollution and bleed as they wash up on the shoreline.
C)single-celled protists become so numerous that they color the water red, brown, yellow, or other colors.
D)fish eat large quantities of red-colored food items and temporarily become red themselves.

Question 31

Although costly to produce, the large number of fruit-producing species attests to its success as an evolutionary adaptation; in what way is fruit production helpful?

A)Fruits attract pollinators like insects and birds to move pollen between different plants.
B)Fruit toxins can discourage potential consumers from eating the plant.
C)Plants can store energy in fruits during summer and then later recover the energy during winter, when the fruit decomposes.
D)Consumers eating fruits also eat seeds that when not digested can be deposited far from the parent plant.

Question 32

The kingdom Plantae consists of four major groups; the _____ are believed to have been the first to colonize the land.

A)angiosperms
B)ferns
C)gymnosperm
D)mosses

Question 33

Mixotrophs show some unusual nutritional strategies; for example, when resources like nitrogen become limited they often switch from

A)photoautotrophy to chemoheterotrophy.
B)photoautotrophy to chemoautotrophy.
C)chemoheterotrophy to photoheterotrophy.
D)photoheterotrophy to photoautotrophy.

Question 34

Gymnosperms and angiosperms are believed to be more closely related to one another than the other major plant groups because

A)they alone possess vascular systems.
B)both groups produce separate male and female gametes.
C)they provide their embryos with stored food that can support growth before photosynthesis begins.
D)both groups protect their seeds within protective structures.

Question 35

What resources do plants use to produce the sugar molecules that plant cells use for fuel?

A)carbon dioxide, water, and light energy
B)water and pond scum
C)nitrogen and oxygen
D)water, nitrogen, and iron

Question 36

Fertilization is the event occurring when a(n)

A)egg and sperm unite to first form a zygote and eventually an embryo.
B)pollen tube grows through the style and reaches the ovary.
C)pollen grain is transported by wind or insect to the female portion of the plant.
D)pollen grain is released from the male portion of the plant.

Question 37

Until the evolution of gymnosperms, plants were restricted to moist habitats because the preceding plant groups

A)produced flagellated sperm cells that needed to swim to the egg.
B)lacked cuticles.
C)produced spores that germinated only in water.
D)had not yet evolved stomata and without them these early plants could not control water loss.

Question 38

In comparison to other plant groups, the bryophytes are usually characterized by the features they lack; for example, bryophytes do not possess

A)a cuticle.
B)chlorophyll.
C)roots.
D)all of the above

Question 39

Lignin first appeared in the ferns and their relatives; its evolution allowed these plants to

A)inhabit arid regions like deserts.
B)resist the assault of herbivorous consumers.
C)tolerate the anoxic soil conditions in the swamp habitats they occupy.
D)extend upward to better intercept sunlight.

Question 40

Stomata normally open and close throughout the day; however, if unable to close, plant tissues could be damaged as

A)excess carbon dioxide reaches toxin levels within the leaf.
B)oxygen escapes creating a hypoxia within the leaf tissues.
C)water rapidly escapes causing dehydration.
D)all of the above

Question 41

Imagine the discovery of an undescribed nonphotosynthetic multicellular organism. To determine whether it is a(n)_____, you would need to examine it microscopically to determine if its _____.

A)animal or fungi; cells have cell walls
B)animal or plant; cells have nuclei
C)plant or fungi; cells have cell walls
D)animal or fungi; cells contain DNA

Question 42

Despite having cell walls like plant cells, this feature is not considered a shared derived trait between the fungi and plants because

A)fungal cell walls are incomplete.
B)chitin rather than cellulose is the primary structural component of a fungal cell wall.
C)digestive enzyme can be secreted through the cell wall of a hypha.
D)glycogen rather than glucose is a primary structural component of a fungal cell wall.

Question 43

One reason plants can live on land is because they have developed a ____________________, which facilitates the distribution of water and nutrients obtained from the soil.

Question 44

On the basis of information presented in the evolutionary tree below, the Ciliates are more closely related to the ____________________ and the ____________________ than any other protist.

Question 45

Despite some similarities in appearance and habitat selection, biologists consider the fungi more closely related to animals than plants; for example, both groups _____, a feature completely absent in plants.

A)use chitin as a structural material
B)share similar gene sequences
C)store surplus carbohydrate as glycogen
D)all of the above

Question 46

What best explains the differences in shoot weight shown in the graph below?

A)Commercial fertilizers often contain harmful contaminants that can suppress growth.
B)Sterilized growth environments remove competitive bacteria and fungi, allowing plants to experience their best possible growth.
C)Commercial fertilizers can be tailored to meet the needs of specific plants, producing the best possible growth for that species.
D)Mycorrhizal fungi not only increase the availability of soil nutrients but often transport them into the plant root.

Question 47

Researchers are attempting to develop a plant that will turn from green to white when in the presence of minute amounts of explosives; what plant molecule needs to be removed from the leaf surface for the system to function as intended?

A)glycogen
B)lignin
C)chlorophyll
D)rhodophytin

Question 48

Some protists will reproduce ____________________ depending upon locating favorable living conditions by fragmentation, budding, fission, or ____________________.

Question 49

Speculate on the diversity of life on Earth if plants had never evolved.

A)The existence of large multicellular consumers like animals would be unlikely.
B)Because protists evolved before plants and can derive their energy by consuming bacteria, they could be expected to be common.
C)Bacterial life would be less diverse than it is presently.
D)All of the above are reasonable hypotheses.

Question 50

Phytophthora ramorum, the fungus causing sudden oak death, has been spread to uninfected forests on the boots of hikers; what reproductive method is most likely responsible?

A)Fragmentation-the fungus is broken when stepped on, fragments adhere to the boot.
B)Asexual reproduction-spores settle on boots and shoes when a mature individual is disturbed.
C)Colonization-the fungus colonizes the boot, matures, and eventually disperses new cells.
D)Budding-after establishing on the boot, the fungus divides asymmetrically to produce daughter cells.

Question 51

____________________, first seen in the gymnosperms, were a major evolutionary development; they both protect the embryo and provide an initial source of nutrition.

Question 52

Most protists are motile, using cilia, flagella, or ____________________ for propulsion.

Question 53

The primary body of a fungus is known as the

A)mycelium.
B)gymnosperm.
C)mitochondrion.
D)septum.

Question 54

Which resource is properly matched with its source?

A)pharmaceuticals-Angiosperms
B)wood and lumber-Bryophytes
C)food-Gymnosperms
D)All of the above are properly matched.

Question 55

The ____________________ were the first plant group to evolve a vascular system.

Question 56

The most fundamental difference between phytoplankton and zooplankton is that zooplankton is ____________________.

Question 57

Sexual reproduction requires the fusion of special cells called ____________________.

Question 58

In comparison to the above-ground fruiting body, or mushroom, the mass of the underground mycelium is

A)substantially smaller.
B)about the same.
C)substantially larger.
D)larger in the basidiomycetes only.

Question 59

The defining feature of the angiosperms is the ____________________.

Question 60

A waxy covering known as the ____________________ was an important adaptation for terrestrial life; it helps keep land plants from drying out when exposed to sun and wind.

Question 61

The cuticle predisposed plants for a terrestrial existence by improving water retention.

Question 62

Sexual reproduction can be observed in all the Eukaryan kingdoms, although not in all Eukaryan species.

Question 63

The organism recorded in this 2.1-billion-year-old fossil is almost certainly a eukaryote; no prokaryote has been observed to be multicellular with such relatively large cells.

Question 64

Seeds contain the embryos of plants and nutrients to assist with germination and initial growth.

Question 65

Xylem is specialized for transporting water and dissolved nutrients.

Question 66

Flowers are the organs of reproduction in angiosperms.

Question 67

Because healthy forests capture and store large amounts of carbon dioxide as they grow they can moderate the severity of climate change; this type of benefit is termed a(n)____________________.

Question 68

The majority of protists are motile, enabling heterotrophic species to locate organic resources and autotrophic species to orient to sunlight.

Question 69

Most plants produce flowers, which greatly improve the probability of ____________________.

Question 70

In nature, fungi function primarily as ____________________, getting their nutrition from dead and dying organisms.

Question 71

Mutualistic organisms are more commonly termed parasites.

Question 72

Without angiosperms, bryophyte reproduction would almost entirely cease.

Question 73

The hyphal mass, or body, of a fungus is constructed from interwoven filaments called mycelia.

Question 74

The modification allowing a plant to detect explosives involves a natural response designed to detect biologically relevant situations like ____________________.

Question 75

Fungi contribute to several important ecosystem services; among the most important is ____________________ organic matter.

Question 76

The domain Eukarya is presently subdivided into four kingdoms as shown below, although new information concerning the protists could increase that number.

Question 77

Despite their classification as protists the evolutionary tree suggests that choanoflagellates and the algae are more closely related to animals and plants, respectively, than one another.

Question 78

Without the symbiotic association between plant roots and mycorrhizae the diversity and abundance of animals and fungi would probably be much less.

Question 79

Although seeming quite distinct, cotton, morphine, and flour are all obtained from flowering plants, otherwise known as ____________________.

Question 80

The flower is the basic reproductive structure of a plant; thus, all plants produce flowers.