Ch. 39 Questions

Question 1

A mineral deficiency is likely to affect older leaves more than younger leaves if the ____.

a. mineral is a micronutrient
b. mineral is a macronutrient
c. mineral is very mobile within the plant
d. older leaves are in direct sunlight
e. mineral is required for chlorophyll synthesis

Answer 1

c. mineral is very mobile within the plant

Question 2

Clay in soils represents a trade-off in nutrient availability, such that ____.

a. cations are less likely to leach out of soil and are difficult for plants to extract
b. nitrogen levels are exceptionally high, but much of the nitrogen
c. oxygen levels are exceptionally high, but much of the nitrogen leaches away
d. anions are less likely to leach out of soil and are difficult for plants to extract

Answer 2

a. cations are less likely to leach out of soil and are difficult for plants to extract

Question 3

Which of the following contributed to the dust bowl in teh American southwest during the 1930s?
    I. overgrazing by cattle
    II. clear-cutting of forest trees
    III. plowing of native grasses
    IV. lack of soil moisture

a. II, III & IV
b. I & II
c. I, III & IV
d. I, II, III, IV

Answer 3

c. I, III & IV

overgrazing by cattle, plowing of native grasses & lack of soil moisture

Question 4

Which criteria allow biologists to divide chemicals into macronutrients and micronutrients?

a. whether or not they are essential for plant growth
b. the quantities of each required by plants
c. how they are used in metabolism
d. molecular weight of the element or compound

Answer 4

b. the quantities of each required by plants

Question 5

What is a typical habitat for carnivorous plants?

a. wet areas with low decomposition rates
b. wet areas with high salinity
c. dry areas with high levels of peat
d. wet areas with high levels of humus
e. dry areas with low levels of available oxygen

Answer 5

a. wet areas with low decomposition rates

Question 6

A rootless, green plant is found growing on the branches and trunks of rain forest trees, but lack any apparent adaptation for collecting rainwater. This plant is most likely _____.

a. a symbiotic plant
b. a nitrogen-fixing plant
c. a parasite
d. an epiphyte

Answer 6

c. a parasite

Question 7

Which of the following elements correctly pairs an essential element in plants with its function?

a. magnesium - component of nucleic acids, phospholipids, ATP, several coenzymes
b. sulfur - component of DNA, activates many coenzymes
c. potassium - component of chlorophyll, activates many enzymes
d. nitrogen - component of nucleic acids, proteins, hormones, coenzymes
e. phosphorous - cofactor functioning in protein synthesis

Answer 7

d. nitrogen - component of nucleic acids, proteins, hormones, coenzymes

Question 8

Which of the following statements about essential nutrients are true? Essential nutrients ______.
I. are necessary for plant growth & metabolic function
II. are required for a specific structure or metabolic function
III. cannot be synthesized by a plant
IV. are produced by symbiotic bacteria

a. II, III & IV
b. I, II & III
c. all of the above
d. I & IV

Answer 8

b. I, II & III

Question 9

Reddish-purple coloring of leaves, especially along the margins of young leaves, is a typical symptom of deficiency of which element?

a. carbon
b. potassium
c. iodine
d. nitrogen
e. magnesium

Answer 9

c. iodine

Question 10

A major function of magnesium in plants is to be ____.

a. active in amino acid formation
b. a component of DNA & RNA
c. a component of chlorophyll
d. required to regenerate phosphoenolpyruvate in C4 & CAM plants

Answer 10

c. a component of chlorophyll