Question 1

A paleobotanist discovers fossils of fan-shaped gymnosperm leaves.Which group contains the most likely modern relative of the plant that produced these leaves?

Accepted Answer

Ginkgos are known for their distinctive fan-shaped leaves, which match the description of the fossils found by the paleobotanist. This makes them the most likely modern relative of the plant that produced these leaves.

Question 2

Which statement about ginkgos is false?

Accepted Answer

Ginkgos do not have fleshy fruits. They have distinctive fan-shaped leaves, sex chromosomes, separate male and female trees, and swimming sperm.

Question 3

Considering the conditions of William Beal's seed viability experiment as well as the circumstances surrounding the incredible seed viability retained by the Judean date palm, which conditions would most likely be best for preserving seed viability?

Accepted Answer

William Beal's experiment showed that seeds retained their viability for longer periods of time in dry conditions. The Judean date palm seeds were preserved in dry conditions in the desert fortress of Masada, further demonstrating the effectiveness of dry conditions for preserving seed viability. Moist conditions can lead to mold and other forms of deterioration, while light can stimulate the growth of plants and use up the seed's resources. Fluctuations in temperature can also be detrimental to seed viability. Therefore, dry and dark conditions are the most likely to preserve seed viability.

Question 4

Which statement about seeds is false?

Accepted Answer

A seed's endosperm is not the female gametophyte, but rather a tissue that provides nutrition to the developing embryo.

Question 5

A scientist finds a fossil plant that pushes back the origins of a reproductive structure that includes gametophytic tissue, stored macromolecules, and a tiny plant.This scientist has most likely discovered a fossil

Accepted Answer

The reproductive structure described (including gametophytic tissue, stored macromolecules, and a tiny plant) is characteristic of seeds, making option C the most likely choice. Option A (petals) is a structure of flowering plants, while options B, D, and E (ovules, spores, and pollen grains) are reproductive structures, but do not fit the description of having stored macromolecules and a tiny plant.

Question 6

Refer to the figure.  Your roommate visits the botanical gardens over the weekend.When she returns, she excitedly shows you the photograph (shown) of a plant she has identified as an angiosperm.How do you best respond?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the figure.  Your roommate...

Question 7

Which of the following gymnosperms retain the ancestral trait of swimming sperm?

Accepted Answer

Cycads and ginkgos are gymnosperms that retain the ancestral trait of having swimming sperm, which is a characteristic not found in most other seed plants.

Question 8

The oldest known living individual gymnosperm comes from which group?

Accepted Answer

The oldest known living individual gymnosperm is a Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) which is a member of the conifer group.

Question 9

Tightly closed cones in some conifers open in response to

Accepted Answer

Tightly closed cones in some conifers open in response to fire. This is due to the high temperatures from a fire melting the resin that seals the cones, allowing the seeds to be released and scattered.

Question 10

A scientist discovers a fossil branch having typical conifer leaves and a fruit.What is unusual about this?

Accepted Answer

Conifers are known for producing cones, not fruits, which is a characteristic feature of angiosperms (flowering plants).

Question 11

Refer to the figure, which shows an unfertilized conifer ovule.  Which letter corresponds to the tissue that will eventually develop into a protective coat that surrounds the seed after fertilization has occurred?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the figure, which shows an...

Question 12

Seed plants that have secondary growth are best characterized by the accumulation of additional

Accepted Answer

Seed plants that have secondary growth are best characterized by the accumulation of additional xylem, which allows for greater water transport and stability.

Question 13

Which of the following is not a characteristic of gymnosperm reproduction?

Accepted Answer

Gymnosperms do not require water for fertilization, as their pollen is carried by wind rather than swimming to the female gametophyte.

Question 14

Refer to the figure.  The clusters of structures shown in the figure are

Accepted Answer

The answer of Refer to the figure.  The clusters...

Question 15

A newly discovered gymnosperm species having typical gymnosperm pollination biology would most likely be pollinated by

Accepted Answer

Gymnosperms are typically wind-pollinated, as they do not produce flowers or nectar to attract animal pollinators. Instead, they rely on the wind to carry their pollen from male cones to female cones.

Question 16

Though gymnosperms hold the title for tallest as well as longest lived in terms of species representatives, angiosperms have emerged as the dominant group of seed plants on Earth today.Which statement best explains the shift toward angiosperm dominance?

Accepted Answer

One reason for the shift toward angiosperm dominance is that angiosperms produce true fruits, which provide incentives for animals to aid in the dispersal of their seeds. Gymnosperms do not produce true fruits and therefore do not have this advantage in seed dispersal.

Question 17

A key feature for colonizing cool, dry habitats is the

Accepted Answer

Seeds provide an advantage for colonizing cool, dry habitats because they have a protective outer coating that prevents desiccation and can remain dormant until conditions are favorable for germination. The other choices are not directly related to colonizing cool, dry habitats.

Question 18

A newly discovered gymnosperm with palm- or fernlike leaves would most likely be a

Accepted Answer

Gymnosperm plants with palm- or fern-like leaves are most likely to be cycads. Cycads are a group of gymnosperms that resemble palms or ferns, and they are characterized by their large and compound leaves.

Question 19

The seed from an ovule lacking an integument is unlikely to form

Accepted Answer

The integument of an ovule develops into the seed coat. Without an integument, a seed is unlikely to form a seed coat.

Question 20

You examine material from an unidentified plant and notice features indicating it is a woody gymnosperm.You can safely guess that the woody stems are the product _______ growth?

Accepted Answer

Woody gymnosperms are characterized by the production of secondary growth which leads to the formation of wood. This is the result of the activity of the vascular cambium, which produces secondary xylem towards the center of the stem and secondary phloem towards the outside. Therefore, the woody stems of the unidentified plant are likely the product of secondary growth.

Quiz 28: The Evolution of Seed Plants