AP Biology : Understanding Vascular and Avascular Plants
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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Classes Of Plant
Fill in the blanks.
The __________ generation is dominant in the bryophyte life cycles, and the __________ generation is dominant in seedless vascular plants.
sporophyte . . . gametophyte
gametophyte . . . gametophyte
sporophyte . . . sporophyte
gametophyte . . . sporophyte
gametophyte . . . sporophyte
Bryophytes are nonvascular plants, such as mosses. Gametophytes are species that have haploid cells during their mature lives, while sporophytes are predominantly diploid during their adult phases.
Bryophytes have the gametophyte generation as dominant, with the sporophytes relying on the parental gametophyte. Starting with the evolution of seedless vascular plants, the gametophytes become reduced and are no longer the dominant life cycle. By the formation of angiosperms (seed plants), the gametophytes have become dependent on the parental sporophyte.
Example Question #2 : Plant Biology
Which of the following structures would be found in a tracheophyte, but not in a bryophyte?
Chloroplasts
Cell walls
Xylem
Plasmids
Xylem
All plants can be classified as either bryophytes or tracheophytes. Plants that contain transport vessels (xylem and phloem) are tracheophytes, while those without transport vessels are bryophytes. All plants contain cell walls and chloroplasts, but only a tracheophyte would contain xylem. Plasmids are structures that are almost exclusively found in bacteria or protozoans.
Example Question #2 : Evolutionary History
Which of the following is not an example of an advantage gained through the vascularization of plants?
Swimming sperm
Large size
Dominant sporophyte generation
Extensive root and shoot systems
Larger photosynthetic area
Swimming sperm
Swimming sperm is a feature of avascular and early vascular plants, who needed to remain in moist environments in order to retain water.
After gaining vascular systems, plants were able to circulate water and nutrients more efficiently, thus being able to grow larger, have more leaves, develop branched systems of roots and shoots to collect water and nutrients, and better dispersal of spores due to gains in size.
Example Question #1 : Classes Of Plant
Which of the following best describes the pith: a tissue type present in vascular plants?
It is a tissue in non-vascular plants that transports nutrients throughout the plant
It contains no parenchyma cells
Pith is located in leaves
It is a tissue in vascular plants that transports nutrients throughout the plant
It is a tissue in vascular plants that transports nutrients throughout the plant
Pith is a type of tissue located in the stems of vascular plants. It stores and transports nutrients throughout the plant. The pith is composed of parenchyma cells.
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