Plant Biology
What is the primary focus of plant biology?
A. The study of human evolution
B. The study of how plants grow, function, and evolve
C. The study of animal behavior
D. The study of aquatic ecosystems
B. The study of how plants grow, function, and evolve
What is an ecosystem?
A. A single organism and its habitat
B. A community of living organisms interacting with their environment
C. A group of plants growing in the same area
D. A collection of non-living things in an environment
B. A community of living organisms interacting with their environment
What is the process by which species change over time through variations in traits and natural selection?
A. Mutation
B. Evolution
C. Adaptation
D. Divergence
B. Evolution
What is nutrient cycling?
A. The process by which water moves between the ocean and atmosphere
B. The movement of nutrients between living things and the environment
C. The formation of new nutrients in plants through photosynthesis
D. The release of energy from nutrients in animals
B. The movement of nutrients between living things and the environment
What does biodiversity refer to?
A. The variety and abundance of all living organisms and the ecosystems they form
B. The process of plants producing oxygen
C. The total number of animals in a specific area
D. The interconnectedness of non-living things in an environment
A. The variety and abundance of all living organisms and the ecosystems they form
Which process in plants is essential for converting sunlight into chemical energy?
A. Cellular respiration
B. Photosynthesis
C. Fermentation
D. Evaporation
B. Photosynthesis
Which of the following is a producer in an ecosystem?
A. A lion
B. A mushroom
C. A tree
D. A wolf
C. A tree
Which statement best describes natural selection?
A. Organisms randomly survive and reproduce.
B. Organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
C. Traits acquired during an organism's lifetime are passed to its offspring.
D. All organisms in an environment reproduce equally.
B. Organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Which process in the water cycle involves water turning into vapor?
A. Precipitation
B. Condensation
C. Evaporation
D. Collection
C. Evaporation
How does biodiversity benefit the health and survival of wildlife?
A. By providing a limited number of food sources
B. By ensuring genetic variation and resilience within species
C. By reducing the variety of habitats available
D. By limiting the interactions between species in an ecosystem
B. By ensuring genetic variation and resilience within species
Why are plants considered the base of nearly all terrestrial ecosystems?
A. They recycle carbon dioxide into oxygen during cellular respiration.
B. They produce their own food via photosynthesis, providing energy for other organisms.
C. They act as decomposers that break down organic material.
D. They regulate the temperature of the Earth’s surface.
B. They produce their own food via photosynthesis, providing energy for other organisms.
How do decomposers indirectly influence population dynamics in an ecosystem?
A. By breaking down organic material, they maintain soil fertility, which supports producer growth.
B. By consuming primary producers, they limit energy available to higher-level consumers.
C. By competing directly with consumers for energy, they slow food web processes.
D. By creating new ecosystems in isolated areas, they prevent overcrowding.
A. By breaking down organic material, they maintain soil fertility, which supports producer growth.
Which of the following is an example of convergent evolution?
A. Birds and bats both developing the ability to fly despite being unrelated
B. Wolves and dogs sharing similar traits due to shared ancestry
C. Two bird species evolving different beak shapes based on their diets
D. Fish and frogs both having gills as adults due to their shared environment
A. Birds and bats both developing the ability to fly despite being unrelated
What role do living organisms play in the carbon cycle?
A. They absorb carbon dioxide but do not release it.
B. They both absorb and release carbon through processes like respiration and decomposition.
C. They store carbon permanently without releasing it back into the environment.
D. They produce carbon in the form of minerals.
B. They both absorb and release carbon through processes like respiration and decomposition.
How does a loss of biodiversity directly threaten ecosystem services critical to humans?
A. It disrupts food chains, reducing crop yields and resource availability.
B. It causes an overabundance of species that outcompete human agriculture.
C. It increases natural pest populations, which cannot adapt to monocultures.
D. It slows down human activities by reducing ecosystem recovery rates.
A. It disrupts food chains, reducing crop yields and resource availability.
How do plants indirectly contribute to the production of modern synthetic materials?
A. By providing the pigments necessary for creating synthetic plastics.
B. By serving as a source for photosynthetic energy, which drives industrial processes.
C. By acting as a base for the fossil fuels used in manufacturing synthetic materials.
D. By being the raw material in all forms of synthetic dyes.
C. By acting as a base for the fossil fuels used in manufacturing synthetic materials.
Why is photosynthesis considered a critical driver of both local and global ecosystems?
A. It generates the oxygen required for atmospheric stability and supports food webs.
B. It prevents the buildup of carbon dioxide but has no impact on energy flow.
C. It exclusively supports terrestrial ecosystems and has limited influence on aquatic environments.
D. It allows decomposers to break down nutrients without sunlight.
A. It generates the oxygen required for atmospheric stability and supports food webs.
Which scenario is an example of divergent evolution?
A. Sharks and dolphins developing streamlined bodies for swimming despite being unrelated.
B. Darwin’s finches evolving different beak shapes based on their food sources.
C. Birds and bats independently evolving the ability to fly.
D. Unrelated plant species developing thorns to protect against herbivores.
B. Darwin’s finches evolving different beak shapes based on their food sources.
How is atmospheric nitrogen made usable for plants and animals?
A. Through photosynthesis in plants
B. By being absorbed directly from the air by animals
C. Through conversion by bacteria and other processes in the nitrogen cycle
D. By dissolving in water and forming a usable compound
C. Through conversion by bacteria and other processes in the nitrogen cycle
Which scenario best illustrates how biodiversity loss impacts global economic systems?
A. Reduction in plant species leads to the loss of potential medicinal compounds.
B. The extinction of predators stabilizes prey populations, boosting farming yields.
C. Fewer species in forests simplify logging operations, reducing costs.
D. Loss of biodiversity has little to no effect on global trade or industries.
A. Reduction in plant species leads to the loss of potential medicinal compounds.
Which part of the plant is primarily responsible for capturing light energy for photosynthesis, and how does it function?
A. Roots; they absorb sunlight through water uptake.
B. Stems; they distribute light energy to other parts of the plant.
C. Chloroplasts in leaves; they use chlorophyll to absorb light energy.
D. Flowers; they attract sunlight for reproductive purposes.
C. Chloroplasts in leaves; they use chlorophyll to absorb light energy.
If decomposers were removed from a forest ecosystem, what cascading effects would occur?
A. Producers would deplete the soil of nutrients, reducing primary productivity and collapsing the food web.
B. Consumers would adapt by feeding directly on organic waste, maintaining the ecosystem’s energy flow.
C. Photosynthesis rates would increase, compensating for the lack of nutrient recycling.
D. Predators would dominate due to increased competition among consumers for available producers.
A. Producers would deplete the soil of nutrients, reducing primary productivity and collapsing the food web.
Which evidence best demonstrates that all living organisms share a common evolutionary ancestor?
A. The independent development of similar traits in unrelated species due to similar environments
B. Homologous structures, such as the forelimbs of mammals, reflecting a shared ancestral blueprint
C. The existence of identical ecosystems across widely separated geographic regions
D. The fact that most organisms share similar appearances and behaviors
B. Homologous structures, such as the forelimbs of mammals, reflecting a shared ancestral blueprint
How do decomposition processes contribute to multiple nutrient cycles?
A. They remove water, nitrogen, and carbon from the environment permanently.
B. They release nitrogen and carbon back into the soil and atmosphere, continuing the nutrient cycles.
C. They slow down the cycling of nutrients by locking them into decomposing organisms.
D. They are unrelated to the water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles.
B. They release nitrogen and carbon back into the soil and atmosphere, continuing the nutrient cycles.
What would likely occur if biodiversity in a key ecosystem, such as a rainforest, were reduced by half?
A. Carbon sequestration would increase as remaining species adapt.
B. Ecosystem services like pollination and water filtration would diminish, destabilizing the global environment.
C. Other ecosystems would compensate for the biodiversity loss through migration of species.
D. Food chains would quickly restructure, maintaining ecosystem functionality
B. Ecosystem services like pollination and water filtration would diminish, destabilizing the global environment.