Deck 18: Protista, Plantae, and Fungi

Question 1

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.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

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.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Most of the cells of a multicellular eukaryote are genetically identical yet may eventually 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 sets of genes that are not expressed in other cells,thus constructing unique proteins that affect the function 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.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Protists are considered to represent an artificial kingdom rather than an evolutionary lineage because

A) no single clade can combine all the species currently grouped within the kingdom.
B) both prokaryotic and eukaryotic species have been assigned to the kingdom.
C) they evolved recently and the members routinely hybridize with one another.
D) all of the species included within the grouping are believed to have descended from a single common ancestor.

Question 5

Many biologists have suggested revising the kingdom Protista.The primary problem with the Protista,as shown in the following figure,is that

A) protists are single-celled organisms and should be grouped with the bacteria or archaeans.
B) the cells of some,but not all,protists contain nuclei and organelles.
C) the current classification model does not suggest an association between the plants and alga despite the presence of chloroplasts in both groups.
D) the amoeboid protists are no more closely related to the rest of the group than are animals and fungi.

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

Cells perform many complex processes;in what way does the membranous compartmentalization seen in eukaryotes aid in these processes?

A) Specific compartmental membranes can have unique sets of transport proteins that allow the compartment to accumulate and concentrate the necessary chemical reactants.
B) Protecting sperm and ova within membranous compartments prior to their release improves the success of sexually reproducing species.
C) Toxic by-products such as oxygen and carbon dioxide can be permanently stored within compartments dedicated to waste containment.
D) If cells are accidentally damaged,the random distribution of compartmentalized components ensures that any fragment will be able to survive and assume an independent life.

Question 8

Biologists hypothesize all of the following advantages for cells of the size typically observed in eukaryotes,EXCEPT

A) the storage of food.
B) a larger selection of potential prey for predatory species.
C) improved defensive capabilities against predatory species.
D) a decrease in the recovery time between successive reproductive events.

Question 9

Examine the following evolutionary tree.

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) plants have a more recent common ancestor with brown algae than with red algae.

Question 10

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 11

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

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

Question 12

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

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

Question 13

Eukaryotes display the earliest version of sexual reproduction,whereby

A) separate male and female individuals within the same species mate.
B) females of one eukaryotic species mate with males of another eukaryotic 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 14

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

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

Question 15

What adaptive advantage do the numerous projections shown in the following microphotograph of the foraminiferans,a type of zooplankton 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

Question 16

The single-celled protists are often mobile and use a variety of propulsive mechanisms,for example,the amoeba move by means of

A) pseudopodia.
B) cilia.
C) flagella.
D) coccoliths.

Question 17

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.

Question 18

The tendency toward sexual reproduction in the more complex eukaryotes suggests a greater number of benefits than asexual reproduction;one potential benefit could be

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

Question 19

In addition to a process similar to binary fission in prokaryotes (as seen in Amoeba)and fragmentation (as seen in large multicellular algae),some eukaryotes can also reproduce asexually by

A) hermaphroditism.
B) releasing gametes that then develop into male or female individuals.
C) the formation of zoospores.
D) creating dormant reproductive structures such as seeds that grow only when environmental conditions are favorable.

Question 20

Note the location of the air bladders in the following illustration 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 21

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) permitted plant life to establish on land
D) allowed the developing embryo to remain protected until better growth conditions became available

Question 22

The kingdom Plantae consists of four major groups;among the first to colonize the land are believed to be the ________.

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

Question 23

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 24

Mature pteridophytes can be transplanted to many different habitats,but natural reproduction in this group is limited to moist environments such as forests because these organisms

A) lack true vascular tissue.
B) are unable to produce seeds.
C) have flagellated sperm that must swim to the female reproductive structures.
D) release their zygotes as zoospores rather than experiencing the embryonic development typical of the more advanced plants.

Question 25

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

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

Question 26

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

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

Question 27

As the least specialized group of plants,the bryophytes are often characterized by the features they lack;for example,bryophytes do NOT possess

A) a cuticle.
B) chlorophyll.
C) roots.
D) cell walls reinforced with cellulose.

Question 28

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 29

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 30

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) The flowers would be much smaller on average than those pollinated by insects.

Question 31

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 such as sugar.
C) Phloem forms the root structures that house symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
D) Phloem possesses stomata that help to take up carbon dioxide and also release pollen.

Question 32

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 33

Which resource is properly matched with its source?

A) pharmaceuticals-Angiosperms
B) wood and lumber-Bryophytes
C) food-Gymnosperms
D) pharmaceuticals -Pteridophytes

Question 34

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 35

Lignin first appeared in the ferns and their relatives;this adaptation allowed these plants and their descendants to

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

Question 36

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

A) excess carbon dioxide reaches toxic levels within the leaf.
B) oxygen escapes,creating a hypoxia within the leaf tissues.
C) water rapidly escapes,causing dehydration.
D) pathogens such as bacteria,protists,or viruses gain access to the interior of a leaf.

Question 37

Which statement best summarizes the adaptive value of xylem?

A) Xylem is specialized for transporting food molecules such as 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 38

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

A) Fruits attract pollinators such as 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 39

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 40

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 41

The first plant group to evolve a vascular system was the ________.

Question 42

Sexual reproduction requires the fusion of special cells called ________.

Question 43

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) smaller in the basidiomycetes only.

Question 44

The following evolutionary tree 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 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 in their cell membranes
B) share similar gene sequences for the enzymes that produce ATP from glucose
C) store surplus carbohydrate as glycogen
D) use flagellated sperm and nonmotile ova when reproducing

Question 46

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

Question 47

A mechanism for uniformly distributing water and nutrients is critical for any multicellular organism;in animals,this is accomplished with a circulatory system,while in plants,the ________ performs this task.

Question 48

Despite both having a cell wall,this adaptation is NOT considered to have been inherited from a common ancestor of 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 49

The main body of a multicellular fungus is known as the

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

Question 50

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

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 51

The defining feature of the angiosperms is the ________.

Question 52

One of the fundamental differences between phytoplankton and zooplankton is that zooplankton are ________.

Question 53

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,and 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 54

The presence of caffeine,because of its bitter taste,has long been considered a plant defense strategy,yet some coffee and citrus plants produce nectar with caffeine concentrations below the taste threshold of their pollinators,yet high enough to modify the pollinator's learning and memory.What hypothesis best explains this phenomenon?

A) The plants and their pollinators are coevolving;the pollinators will frequent and pollinate the caffeine-producing plants at higher rates than pollinators whose memory is unaffected by caffeine.
B) These plants once produced wide ranges of caffeine,but only those with moderate concentrations were pollinated;the pollinators are the directional pressure for these plants.
C) The pollinators once responded to the toxicity of caffeine with a variety of tolerances,but the benefits of caffeinated nectar have become the directional pressure for these insects.
D) Insect pollinators have poor vision,smell,and directional sense;without memory enhancements,they are almost incapable of returning to the same location.

Question 55

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

A) The existence of large multicellular consumers such as animals and fungi would be unlikely.
B) No atmospheric oxygen would exist and the cell metabolism used by animals and fungi would not be possible.
C) Bacterial life would display a greatly expanded diversity since the competition created by plants would have been absent.
D) Photosynthetic species belonging to the fungi and animal kingdoms would surely have evolved.

Question 56

Imagine the discovery of a previously undescribed nonphotosynthetic multicellular organism.Microscopic examination should verify if its cells ________,and therefore,it should be assigned to the ________ .

A) have cell walls;kingdom Animalia or Fungi
B) contain nuclei;domain Eukarya or Bacteria
C) have cell walls;kingdom Plantae or Animalia
D) contain mitochondria;kingdom Animalia or Fungi

Question 57

An important adaptation for terrestrial life that helps keep terrestrial plants from desiccating when exposed to sun and wind is a waxy covering known as the ________

Question 58

On the basis of information presented in the following evolutionary tree,the ciliates are more closely related to the ________ and the ________ than any other protist.

Question 59

A major evolutionary development first seen in the gymnosperms that both protected the embryo and provided an initial source of nutrition was the ________.

Question 60

Some protists can reproduce asexually after having located to favorable living conditions;the most commonly used methods are fragmentation,zoospores,budding,or ________.

Question 61

Fungi contribute to several important ecosystem processes;among the most important is ________ organic matter.

Question 62

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

Question 63

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

Question 64

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

Question 65

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

Question 66

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

Question 67

Mutualistic organisms are more commonly termed parasites.

Question 68

Non-human species throughout the world are imperiled by habitat loss,climate change,and introduced species,but the greatest threat to biodiversity and the immediate cause of each specific problem,is the rate of human population ________.

Question 69

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

Question 70

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

Question 71

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

Question 72

Without angiosperms,bryophyte reproduction would almost entirely cease.

Question 73

Flowers are the organs of reproduction in angiosperms.

Question 74

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 75

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

Question 76

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

Question 77

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

Question 78

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

Question 79

Xylem is specialized for transporting water and dissolved nutrients.

Question 80

Long known for its bitter taste,low concentrations of caffeine in the nectar of some plants appears to act as a mild stimulant to the insects that consume the nectar and improves the probability of ________ for those plants that produce it.