Question 1

Arrange the following structures, which can be found on male pine trees, from the largest structure to the smallest structure (or from most inclusive to least inclusive).
A) sporophyte, pollen cone, microsporangia, microspores, pollen nuclei
B) sporophyte, microspores, microsporangia, pollen nuclei, pollen cone
C) pollen cone, sporophyte, microspores, microsporangia, pollen nuclei
D) pollen cone, microsporangia, microspores, pollen nuclei, sporophyte

Accepted Answer

The correct order from largest to smallest is: sporophyte (the whole tree), pollen cone (structure on the tree), microsporangia (within the cone), microspores (within microsporangia), pollen nuclei (within microspores).

Question 2

One day, you go outside and see that the cars on the street are covered in a yellow "dust." Which of the following statements can be correctly applied to this "dust"?
A) The dust is pine pollen and is so abundant because the pines are wind-pollinated.
B) The dust is the spore production of ferns and is so abundant because the spores are wind-dispersed.
C) The dust is the seed production of ferns and is so abundant because the seeds are tiny and take very little energy to produce.
D) The dust is the seed production of pines and is so abundant because the seeds are tiny and take very little energy to produce.

Accepted Answer

Pine trees are wind-pollinated and produce a lot of pollen during their pollination season, which results in yellow "dust" covering cars and other surfaces. Ferns do produce spores, but they are typically not abundant enough to cover cars and they are dispersed by wind, not produced in large quantities. Seed production for ferns and pines is not typically in the form of a "dust" covering cars.

Question 3

In addition to seeds, which of the following characteristics is unique to the seed-producing plants?
A) sporopollenin
B) lignin present in cell walls
C) pollen
D) megaphylls

Accepted Answer

Pollen is unique to seed-producing plants and is a key adaptation for reproduction on land. Sporopollenin, lignin present in cell walls, and megaphylls are all present in other plant groups as well.

Question 4

In seed plants, which of the following is part of a pollen grain and has a function most like that of the seed coat?
A) sporophyll
B) sporopollenin
C) stigma
D) sporangium

Accepted Answer

Sporopollenin is a tough polymer that makes up the outer layer of pollen and is similar in function to the seed coat, which protects the developing embryo inside the seed. Sporophylls are modified leaves that bear sporangia, which produce spores. Stigmas are part of the female reproductive system and are responsible for capturing pollen. Sporangia are structures that produce spores in plants that do not produce pollen.

Question 5

A researcher has developed two stains for use with seed plants. One stains sporophyte tissue blue; the other stains gametophyte tissue red. If the researcher exposes pollen grains to both stains, and then rinses away the excess stain, what should occur?
A) The pollen grains will be pure red.
B) The pollen grains will be pure blue.
C) The pollen grains will have red interiors and blue exteriors.
D) The pollen grains will have blue interiors and red exteriors.

Accepted Answer

The pollen grains will have red interiors (gametophyte tissue) and blue exteriors (sporophyte tissue) since both stains were used and not one was left to dominate over the other.

Question 6

Which of the following characteristics is functionally important in cells of the gametophytes of both angiosperms and gymnosperms?
A) diploid nuclei
B) mitochondria
C) endosperm
D) chloroplasts

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria are functionally important in cells of the gametophytes of both angiosperms and gymnosperms as they are essential for energy production.

Question 7

In terms of alternation of generations, the internal parts of the pollen grains of seed-producing plants are most similar to a ________.
A) moss sporophyte
B) moss gametophyte bearing both male and female gametangia
C) fern sporophyte
D) fern gametophyte bearing only antheridia

Accepted Answer

The internal parts of pollen grains represent the male gametophyte, which is similar to the fern gametophyte bearing only antheridia, as both produce male gametes.

Question 8

The advantages of the reduced gametophytes in seed plants include ________.
A) protection from ultraviolet radiation, gain of nutrients from its own photosynthesis, and protection from drying out
B) protection from ultraviolet radiation, gain of nutrients from the sporophyte, and protection from drying out
C) protection of the spores from ultraviolet radiation and drying out, and gain of nutrients from the sporophyte
D) development of the seed

Accepted Answer

Reduced gametophytes in seed plants are protected from UV radiation and desiccation by the sporophyte, and they obtain nutrients from the sporophyte.

Question 9

Spruces and pines both have needlelike leaves, with the adaptive advantage of ________.
A) increased surface area, increasing photosynthesis
B) increased surface area, increasing gas exchange
C) decreased surface area, reducing gas exchange
D) decreased surface area, reducing water loss

Accepted Answer

Spruces and pines both have needlelike leaves, and this adaptation reduces water loss because there is less surface area from which water can evaporate compared to broad leaves. This is especially advantageous in conditions with limited water availability.

Question 10

Which of the following is a major trend in land plant evolution?
A) the trend toward smaller size
B) the trend toward a gametophyte-dominated life cycle
C) the trend toward a sporophyte-dominated life cycle
D) the trend toward larger gametophytes

Accepted Answer

The trend in land plant evolution has been towards a sporophyte-dominated life cycle, where the diploid sporophyte generation becomes more pronounced and takes over the dominant role in the plant's life cycle. This is seen in the evolution of seed plants, where the sporophyte generation is much larger and longer-lived than the gametophyte generation.

Question 11

The closest relatives of the familiar pine and spruce trees are ________.
A) ferns, horsetails, lycophytes, and club mosses
B) hornworts, liverworts, and mosses
C) gnetophytes, cycads, and ginkgos
D) elms, maples, and aspens

Accepted Answer

Pine and spruce trees are gymnosperms, and their closest relatives are other gymnosperms like gnetophytes, cycads, and ginkgos.

Question 12

Which of the following statements correctly describes a portion of the pine life cycle?
A) Female gametophytes use mitosis to produce eggs.
B) Seeds are produced in pollen-producing cones.
C) Pollen grains contain female gametophytes.
D) A pollen tube slowly digests its way through the triploid endosperm.

Accepted Answer

In the pine life cycle, female gametophytes use mitosis to produce eggs. This occurs within the ovule, which is located within the female cone. The male cone produces pollen, which contains the male gametophyte. Once the pollen reaches the female cone, it germinates and a pollen tube grows to deliver the male gametophyte to the egg. The fertilized egg develops into an embryo within the seed. The seed is produced within the female cone, not pollen-producing cones. Pollen grains do not contain female gametophytes. A pollen tube does digest its way through the nucellus tissue, but not through the endosperm.

Question 13

Within a gymnosperm megasporangium, which of the following developmental sequences is correct, assuming fertilization occurs?
A) megaspore, female gametophyte, egg cell, sporophyte embryo
B) megaspore, sporophyte embryo, female gametophyte, egg cell
C) sporophyte embryo, megaspore, egg cell, female gametophyte
D) sporophyte embryo, megaspore, female gametophyte, egg cell

Accepted Answer

Within a gymnosperm megasporangium, the megaspore develops into the female gametophyte, which then gives rise to the egg cell. After fertilization, the sporophyte embryo develops. Therefore, the correct developmental sequence is megaspore, female gametophyte, egg cell, sporophyte embryo.

Question 14

Arrange the following in the correct sequence, from earliest to most recent, in which these plant traits originated.
A) sporophyte dominance, gametophyte independence; sporophyte dominance, gametophyte dependence; gametophyte dominance, sporophyte dependence
B) sporophyte dominance, gametophyte dependence; sporophyte dominance, gametophyte independence; gametophyte dominance, sporophyte dependence
C) gametophyte dominance, sporophyte dependence; sporophyte dominance, gametophyte dependence; sporophyte dominance, gametophyte independence
D) gametophyte dominance, sporophyte dependence; sporophyte dominance, gametophyte independence; sporophyte dominance, gametophyte dependence

Accepted Answer

The answer of Arrange the following in the correct sequence,...

Question 15

Which of the following statements about the pine life cycle is accurate?
A) The pine tree is a gametophyte.
B) Male and female gametophytes are in close proximity during gamete synthesis.
C) Double fertilization is a relatively common phenomenon.
D) Conifer pollen grains contain male gametophytes.

Accepted Answer

Conifer pollen grains contain male gametophytes, which are released into the air in order to fertilize female cones on other conifer trees. The pine tree is not a gametophyte, as it is the sporophyte phase of the life cycle. Male and female gametophytes are not necessarily in close proximity during gamete synthesis, as the male gametes are delivered by the wind to female cones on other trees. Double fertilization is not a phenomenon that occurs in gymnosperms such as pine trees.

Question 16

Suppose that the cells of seed plants, like the cells of human skin, produce a pigment upon increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Rank the following cells, from greatest to least, in terms of the likelihood of producing this pigment.
A) epidermal cells of sporophyte megaphylls, cells of a gametophyte, cells of a megasporangium, cells in the interior of a subterranean root
B) epidermal cells of sporophyte megaphylls, cells of a gametophyte, cells in the interior of a subterranean root, cells of a megasporangium
C) epidermal cells of sporophyte megaphylls, cells of a megasporangium, cells of a gametophyte, cells in the interior of a subterranean root
D) epidermal cells of sporophyte megaphylls, cells in the interior of a subterranean root, cells of a megasporangium, cells of a gametophyte

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose that the cells of seed plants,...

Question 17

Which of the following sex and generation combinations directly produces the pollen tube of angiosperms?
A) male gametophyte
B) female gametophyte
C) male sporophyte
D) female sporophyte

Accepted Answer

The male gametophyte, specifically the tube cell within it, directly produces the pollen tube of angiosperms.

Question 18

The advantages of seeds, compared to spores, include ________.
A) using wind as a dispersal agent
B) containing a nutrient store for a developing sporophyte
C) relying on animals for pollination
D) providing nutrition for animals

Accepted Answer

Seeds contain a nutrient store for the developing sporophyte, giving it a headstart in growth compared to spores.

Question 19

Unlike almost all ferns, seed plants ________.
A) produce two kinds of spores
B) have large gametophytes
C) have vascular tissue
D) can photosynthesize

Accepted Answer

Seed plants produce two kinds of spores (heterospory), which is a characteristic that distinguishes them from most ferns, which are typically homosporous.

Question 20

Which of the following lines of evidence would best support your assertion that a particular plant is an angiosperm?
A) It produces seeds.
B) It retains its fertilized egg within its archegonium.
C) It lacks gametangia.
D) It undergoes alternation of generations.

Accepted Answer

Angiosperms are characterized by the absence of gametangia, as their gametes are produced within flowers, which is a key distinguishing feature from other plant groups.

Quiz 30: Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants

Arrange the following structures, which can be found on male pine trees, from the largest structure to the smallest structure (or from most inclusive to least inclusive) .

One day, you go outside and see that the cars on the street are covered in a yellow "dust." Which of the following statements can be correctly applied to this "dust"?

In addition to seeds, which of the following characteristics is unique to the seed-producing plants?

In seed plants, which of the following is part of a pollen grain and has a function most like that of the seed coat?

A researcher has developed two stains for use with seed plants. One stains sporophyte tissue blue; the other stains gametophyte tissue red. If the researcher exposes pollen grains to both stains, and then rinses away the excess stain, what should occur?

Which of the following characteristics is functionally important in cells of the gametophytes of both angiosperms and gymnosperms?

In terms of alternation of generations, the internal parts of the pollen grains of seed-producing plants are most similar to a ________.

The advantages of the reduced gametophytes in seed plants include ________.

Spruces and pines both have needlelike leaves, with the adaptive advantage of ________.

Which of the following is a major trend in land plant evolution?

The closest relatives of the familiar pine and spruce trees are ________.

Which of the following statements correctly describes a portion of the pine life cycle?

Within a gymnosperm megasporangium, which of the following developmental sequences is correct, assuming fertilization occurs?

Arrange the following in the correct sequence, from earliest to most recent, in which these plant traits originated.

Which of the following statements about the pine life cycle is accurate?

Suppose that the cells of seed plants, like the cells of human skin, produce a pigment upon increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Rank the following cells, from greatest to least, in terms of the likelihood of producing this pigment.

Which of the following sex and generation combinations directly produces the pollen tube of angiosperms?

The advantages of seeds, compared to spores, include ________.

Unlike almost all ferns, seed plants ________.

Which of the following lines of evidence would best support your assertion that a particular plant is an angiosperm?