Question 1

Which group of plants lacks vascular tissue?

Accepted Answer

Mosses lack vascular tissue, which means they do not have the specialized structures (xylem and phloem) for transporting water and nutrients.

Question 2

Some companies that produce paper will also produce a by-product that is sold as a binder (something that binds, or holds, things together). From which part of trees does this by-product come?

Accepted Answer

Lignin is a complex organic polymer found in the cell walls of many plants, particularly in wood and bark, which provides rigidity and does not rot easily. It is a by-product of the paper-making process and can be used as a binder.

Question 3

Would you expect desert plants to have a thin or thick cuticle?

Accepted Answer

Desert plants have a thick cuticle to minimize water loss and retain moisture in the arid environment.

Question 4

Which step is the last in the formation of fossil fuels?

Accepted Answer

The last step in the formation of fossil fuels involves subjecting organic matter to extreme heat and pressure, which transforms it into coal, oil, or natural gas over millions of years.

Question 5

Mutualistic associations of plant roots and fungi are called ________.

Accepted Answer

Mycorrhizae are mutualistic associations between plant roots and fungi, where both organisms benefit from the relationship.

Question 6

The ________ help(s)plants retain water.

Accepted Answer

The cuticle is a waxy layer that covers the leaves and stems of plants and helps to retain water.

Question 7

________, a chemical that hardens cell walls and supports terrestrial plants, is found in all plants EXCEPT ________.

Accepted Answer

Lignin is a chemical that hardens cell walls and supports terrestrial plants. It is found in all plants except bryophytes.

Question 8

Why are ferns considered incompletely adapted to the terrestrial environment, when compared with other plants?

Accepted Answer

Ferns are considered incompletely adapted to the terrestrial environment because their sperm are flagellated and require water for fertilization, limiting their ability to reproduce in dry conditions.

Question 9

Gametophytes are ________; sporophytes are ________.

Accepted Answer

Gametophytes are haploid, meaning they have a single set of chromosomes, while sporophytes are diploid, having two sets of chromosomes.

Question 10

Why are bryophytes considered incompletely liberated from their ancestral aquatic habitat?

Accepted Answer

Bryophytes are considered incompletely liberated from their ancestral aquatic habitat because their sperm are flagellated and require water to swim to the egg for fertilization.

Question 11

Truffle mushrooms are an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

Truffle mushrooms are a type of fungus that is highly valued for its culinary uses, making them commercially important. They are not parasitic, photosynthetic, or seed-producing.

Question 12

Why is the symbiotic relationship of truffle mushrooms and tree roots considered to be crucial to the colonization of land?

Accepted Answer

The symbiotic relationship between truffle mushrooms and tree roots, known as mycorrhiza, is crucial because it is found in some of the oldest plant fossils, indicating its importance in the early colonization of land by plants.

Question 13

Gametophytes produce ________.

Accepted Answer

Gametophytes are the sexual phase of the plant life cycle and produce gametes (sperm and eggs).

Question 14

If you wanted to propagate (grow)ferns, what do you need to collect from existing ferns?

Accepted Answer

Ferns reproduce by spores, which are haploid cells.

Question 15

Much of the coal we use today came from ________ that lived during the Carboniferous.

Accepted Answer

The coal we use today primarily originated from the remains of ferns and other plants that lived during the Carboniferous period, which is known for its extensive swampy forests.

Question 16

In ________ the gametophyte is more obvious than the sporophyte.

Accepted Answer

In mosses, the gametophyte is more obvious than the sporophyte. The gametophyte is the dominant phase of the life cycle, and the sporophyte is dependent on the gametophyte for nutrition.

Question 17

Which series of terms correctly illustrates the sequence of the origin of modern groups of plants?

Accepted Answer

Bryophytes are the oldest group of plants, followed by ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms.

Question 18

________ are seedless vascular plants.

Accepted Answer

Ferns are seedless vascular plants that reproduce via spores and have a vascular system for transporting water and nutrients.

Question 19

Which lineage of green algae is believed to most resemble early plant ancestors?

Accepted Answer

Charophytes are a group of green algae that share several key characteristics with land plants, such as similar chlorophyll types and cell wall structures, making them the closest relatives and most resembling early plant ancestors.

Question 20

The origin of seeds occurred approximately ________ years ago.

Accepted Answer

Seeds originated approximately 360 million years ago during the late Devonian period.

Quiz 16: The Evolution of Plants and Fungi