Dr. Reichler’s Bio 214 1-2pm Print
Name:________________ KEY ________
Exam #1 June 17, 2002
Answer each question as succinctly as possible in the
space provided. If you need more space, use the back. If you
use a drawing as part of your answer, be sure to also include a written explanation.
Each question is worth 6 pts, unless otherwise noted, for a total of 100
points possible for this exam. Read each question carefully and don’t
hesitate to ask if a question seems unclear.
1. a. If your were looking at a plant fossil, how might you determine
whether the plant you are looking at was an aquatic or terrestrial plant?
Any one of: Terrestial has presence of… Vascular tissue, Flowers, Roots,
Stomata/Guard cells, seeds
Partial credit…3/6 points Cuticle
b. In plants, what is one advantage and one disadvantage to having a cuticle?
Any one of: Adv- keeps water in
Disadv- keeps CO2 or O2 out, can only get water from ground
c. What is different about the alternation of generations (the life cycle)
of bryophytes (mosses) and angiosperms (flowering plants)?
Mosses are primarily haploid, angiosperms mostly diploid.
2. a. What are two ways that roots increase surface area? Why
do roots need a large surface area?
Root hairs and lateral roots. Large surface area leads to greater
ability for absorption.
b. Draw a root; label and describe the function of six parts.
See Campbell et al 5th ed. figures 35.15 and 35.16
3. a. During plant evolution, what plant cell type was necessary for
the evolution of shoots? Explain.
Sclerenchyma, needed support AND transport. Could also answer paranchyma,
basis of all plant cell types and makes sclerenchyma.
b. How might a plant shoot exposed to strong wind be different compared to
a plant shoot growing in a calm environment?
The wind-exposed shoot will be shorter, wider, sturdier, possibly with
more sclerenchyma or collenchyma.
4. In very hot and dry conditions plants keep their stomata closed.
How might this inhibit the movement of water from the roots into the leaves,
and aside from a lack of water, why would this decrease a plant's ability
to carry out photosynthesis?
Water loss by transpiration through stomata in leaves pulls water through
xylem. If the stomata are closed, no transpiration, no pull, no movement.
Closed stomata also keep CO2 from entering, and therefore inhibit photosynthesis.
5. a. Why are bees or other insects attracted to flowers?
Receive reward in form of sugar/nectar.
Partial credit…3/6pts color or scent.
b. There are three nuclei in pollen. Describe what each of the three
nuclei does during fertilization?
Tube nucleus-directs growth of pollen tube. 1 Sperm nucleus combines
with egg to form zygote (new plant), 1 sperm nucleus combines with 2 polar
nuclei to form endosperm (nutrition for embryo).
c. What function does fruit serve for plants?
Seed dispersal through reward to animals for eating fruit.
6. a. What condition could cause an air bubble in xylem? How
might the plant get rid of this air bubble?
Any one of: Too much transpiration for amount of water or amount
of xylem. Lack of water.
To get rid of bubble, the xylem parenchyma transport water
laterally to refill vessels/tracheids.
b. How do plants change the direction of sugar transport, and why is it necessary
to change the direction of sugar transport in plants?
By changing where the loading and unloading is taking place. Any one of:
Sugar needs change …leaves in spring need sugar, in summer produce sugar.
When a flower forms it needs sugar.
c. Why would a plant without an endodermis be at a disadvantage versus a
plant with an endodermis?
The plant lacking an endodermis would not be able to regulate or keep
out toxins from entering vascular system of the root.
7. Why are herbaceous plants relatively small compared to woody plants?
Herbaceous plants are limited to the number of leaves based on amount
of vascular tissue. Woody plants can increase vascular tissue to increase
leaf number. Also acceptable, Wood is mostly xylem which helps support
the plant.
8. Using rules 1 and 2 of Strong Inference (the parts prior to doing experiments),
answer the following question: How do plants respond to and survive
in mineral-poor soil? (10pts)
(Need to propose multiple hypotheses, and then an experiment to eliminate
one or more hypotheses.) Example: Hypotheses- Respond to lack
of nutrients by increasing lateral roots. Do not respond at all.
Respond by decreasing root area. Respond by growing smaller.
Experiment- Grow plants on normal and depleted soil. Measure
plant size and root size.