Question 1

Which group of plants was the first to produce seeds?

Accepted Answer

Gymnosperms were the first group of plants to produce seeds, marking a significant evolutionary advancement from non-seed plants like mosses and ferns.

Question 2

Bryophytes absorb water and nutrients through

Accepted Answer

Bryophytes, such as mosses, lack true roots and instead have structures called rhizoids that help them anchor to surfaces and absorb water and nutrients directly from their surroundings.

Question 3

Why canʹt you buy fern seeds from a garden supply store?

Accepted Answer

Ferns reproduce through spores, not seeds, which is why you cannot buy fern seeds from a garden supply store.

Question 4

While walking in a tropical forest, you come upon a 6 -meter-tall plant that shows no evidence of seed production. The plant is most likely a(n)

Accepted Answer

Ferns are vascular plants that do not produce seeds; instead, they reproduce via spores. Their size can vary, and they can grow to be quite tall, making a 6-meter-tall plant likely to be a fern among the given options. Gymnosperms and angiosperms reproduce through seeds, bryophytes are generally small and non-vascular, and algae are primarily aquatic and not typically found as tall, land-dwelling plants.

Question 5

Which of the following groups is represented today by a single species?

Accepted Answer

Ginkgos are represented today by a single species, Ginkgo biloba, which is often referred to as a living fossil.

Question 6

Why are mosses and liverworts dependent on water for reproduction?

Accepted Answer

Mosses and liverworts require water for reproduction because their sperm are flagellated and must swim through water to reach and fertilize the eggs.

Question 7

If you were hiking and wanted to show off your understanding of the differences between gymnosperms and angiosperms, what characteristics could you see with your naked eye that would help you impress your friends?

Accepted Answer

Gymnosperms and angiosperms can be distinguished by their reproductive structures: gymnosperms produce seeds in cones, while angiosperms produce seeds enclosed within flowers.

Question 8

Which group of land plants is most restricted to moist environments?

Accepted Answer

Bryophytes, which include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts, are most restricted to moist environments because they lack a vascular system to transport water and nutrients, making them dependent on direct water absorption.

Question 9

Which group does NOT depend on water for reproduction?

Accepted Answer

Flowering plants do not depend on water for reproduction. They use pollination, which can be carried out by wind, insects, or animals, to transfer pollen from the male structures to the female structures of plants, thus facilitating fertilization without the need for water.

Question 10

Which of the following are important reproductive adaptations that allow plants to inhabit terrestrial environments?

Accepted Answer

Seeds and pollen are crucial adaptations for terrestrial plants, allowing them to reproduce without the need for water by protecting the embryo (seeds) and facilitating the transfer of male gametes to female gametes through the air (pollen).

Question 11

Which of the following is a characteristic of nonvascular plants?

Accepted Answer

Nonvascular plants, such as mosses, are generally small in size due to their lack of a vascular system (xylem and phloem) to transport water and nutrients, which limits their growth. They do not have an extensive root system, stems, and leaves in the same way that vascular plants do.

Question 12

How do ferns differ from other seedless vascular plants?

Accepted Answer

Ferns are distinguished from other seedless vascular plants by having broad leaves, which are typically large and divided, unlike the narrow, needle-like or scale-like leaves of many other vascular plants. This characteristic allows for a greater surface area for photosynthesis.

Question 13

What group dominated the Carboniferous period and is now burned as coal?

Accepted Answer

Seedless vascular plants, particularly ferns and other primitive plants like lycophytes, dominated the Carboniferous period. These plants contributed significantly to the formation of coal deposits found today.

Question 14

While walking along a streambed, you encounter a reedy seedless plant. Upon closer inspection, you determine that the stems contain large amounts of silica and have tiny scale -like leaves. This plant is most likely a

Accepted Answer

The description matches that of a horsetail, which is a seedless plant known for its reedy appearance, stems rich in silica, and tiny scale-like leaves. Cycads, mosses, ferns, and liverworts do not fit this description as closely as horsetails do.

Question 15

Which evolutionary plant innovation eliminated the need for sperm to swim through water in order to fertilize an egg, resulting in plants being truly adapted for reproduction on land?

Accepted Answer

Pollen grains are a key evolutionary adaptation that allows plants to reproduce without the need for water. Pollen can be transported by wind, insects, or other animals, enabling the fertilization of an egg far from the male parent. This adaptation is crucial for the successful reproduction of seed plants (gymnosperms and angiosperms) in terrestrial environments.

Question 16

Which of the following weather conditions would you expect to have the greatest negative impact on the sexual reproduction of ferns and mosses?

Accepted Answer

Ferns and mosses rely on water for the movement of sperm to eggs during sexual reproduction. Excessively dry conditions would impede this process, negatively impacting their ability to reproduce.

Question 17

In flowering plants, what is the relationship between the sporophyte and gametophyte?

Accepted Answer

In flowering plants, the sporophyte generation is dominant, and the gametophyte generation is greatly reduced in size and complexity. The gametophyte is dependent on the sporophyte and is retained on the sporophyte for its entire lifecycle.

Question 18

Which of the following groups has been planted extensively along U.S. streets because of their resistance to pollution?

Accepted Answer

Ginkgos, specifically Ginkgo biloba, are known for their high tolerance to pollution and other urban stresses, making them a popular choice for street trees in many U.S. cities.

Question 19

You discover a new species of plant in a tropical rain forest. You observe that it has flagellated sperm and the sporophyte emerges from the gametophyte; however, seeds and xylem tissue is lacking. This plant is probably a(n)

Accepted Answer

Bryophytes have flagellated sperm and a life cycle where the sporophyte emerges from the gametophyte. They lack seeds and xylem tissue, fitting the description given.

Question 20

Which of the following are gymnosperms?

Accepted Answer

Gymnosperms are a group of seed-producing plants that includes cycads, ginkgos, and conifers. Ferns and horsetails, mentioned in the other options, are not gymnosperms but are instead classified as pteridophytes, which reproduce via spores rather than seeds.

Quiz 22: The Diversity of Plants