Question 1

The NPK percentages on a package of fertilizer refer to the

Accepted Answer

A) total protein content of the three major ingredients of the fertilizer. 
B) percentages of manure collected from different types of animals. 
C) relative percentages of organic and inorganic nutrients in the fertilizer. 
D) percentages of three important mineral nutrients. 
E) proportions of three different nitrogen sources. 
A) total protein content of the three major ingredients of the fertilizer. 
B) percentages of manure collected from different types of animals. 
C) relative percentages of organic and inorganic nutrients in the fertilizer. 
D) percentages of three important mineral nutrients. 
E) proportions of three different nitrogen sources. D

Question 2

For this pair of items, choose the option that best describes their relationship. I. the average size of particles that constitute silt
II. the average size of particles that constitute clay

Accepted Answer

A) Item I is larger than item II. 
B) Item I is smaller than item II. 
C) Item I is exactly or very approximately equal to item II. 
D) Item I bears no relationship to item II. 
A) Item I is larger than item II. 
B) Item I is smaller than item II. 
C) Item I is exactly or very approximately equal to item II. 
D) Item I bears no relationship to item II. B

Question 3

The figure below shows the results of a study to determine the effect of soil air spaces on plant growth.
  
-The data in the above figure indicate that the plant

Accepted Answer

A) grows best at the lower levels of air in the soil. 
B) grows about the same in 15% and 20% soil air levels. 
C) grows best in soil air levels above 15%. 
D) grows about the same in 15% and 20% soil air levels, and grows best in soil air levels above 15%. 
E) grows about the same in 15% and 20% soil air levels, grows best in soil air levels above 15%, and grows best at the lower levels of air in the soil. 
A) grows best at the lower levels of air in the soil. 
B) grows about the same in 15% and 20% soil air levels. 
C) grows best in soil air levels above 15%. 
D) grows about the same in 15% and 20% soil air levels, and grows best in soil air levels above 15%. 
E) grows about the same in 15% and 20% soil air levels, grows best in soil air levels above 15%, and grows best at the lower levels of air in the soil. D

Question 4

For this pair of items, choose the option that best describes their relationship. I. the amount of nitrogen in a fertilizer marked "15-10-5"
II. the amount of nitrogen in a fertilizer marked "15-5-5"

Accepted Answer

A) Item I is greater than item II. 
B) Item I is less than item II. 
C) Item I is exactly or very approximately equal to item II. 
D) Item I is unrelated to item II. 
A) Item I is greater than item II. 
B) Item I is less than item II. 
C) Item I is exactly or very approximately equal to item II. 
D) Item I is unrelated to item II.

Question 5

The following questions refer to the description below.
Soil can be considered a complex ecosystem because it contains inorganic particles, minerals, water, and a large diversity of living organisms that all interact with one another. Plants need soil to grow and humans depend on plants for food, building supplies, a source of heat, etc.
-There are many ways that soils can be protected; which of the following is not one of them?

Accepted Answer

A) Leaving vegetation, such as tree cover and standing crops, to protect soil from erosion. 
B) Not removing leaf litter and other organic material from soil. 
C) Clear cutting, but in a few years replanting new seedlings. 
D) Avoiding use of chemicals that may harm soil organisms. 
E) Earthworms are important for soil aeration and addition of nutrients. 
A) Leaving vegetation, such as tree cover and standing crops, to protect soil from erosion. 
B) Not removing leaf litter and other organic material from soil. 
C) Clear cutting, but in a few years replanting new seedlings. 
D) Avoiding use of chemicals that may harm soil organisms. 
E) Earthworms are important for soil aeration and addition of nutrients.

Question 6

When performing a mineral nutrition experiment, researchers use water from a glass still. Why is it not a good idea to use regular distilled water from a stainless steel still?

Accepted Answer

A) With a steel still, lime deposits from hard water will build up too quickly. 
B) Salts in the water corrode steel more quickly than glass. 
C) Metal ions dissolving off the steel may serve as micronutrients. 
D) A glass still allows the distillation process to be observed. 
E) There is no difference; both kinds of stills produce distilled water. 
A) With a steel still, lime deposits from hard water will build up too quickly. 
B) Salts in the water corrode steel more quickly than glass. 
C) Metal ions dissolving off the steel may serve as micronutrients. 
D) A glass still allows the distillation process to be observed. 
E) There is no difference; both kinds of stills produce distilled water.

Question 7

What are epiphytes?

Accepted Answer

A) aerial vines common in tropical regions 
B) haustoria used for anchoring to host plants and obtaining xylem sap 
C) plants that live in poor soil and digest insects to obtain nitrogen 
D) plants that grow on other plants but do not obtain nutrients from their hosts 
E) plants that have a symbiotic relationship with fungi 
A) aerial vines common in tropical regions 
B) haustoria used for anchoring to host plants and obtaining xylem sap 
C) plants that live in poor soil and digest insects to obtain nitrogen 
D) plants that grow on other plants but do not obtain nutrients from their hosts 
E) plants that have a symbiotic relationship with fungi

Question 8

Most of the water taken up by a plant is

Accepted Answer

A) used as a solvent. 
B) used as a hydrogen source in photosynthesis. 
C) lost during transpiration. 
D) converted to CO₂. 
E) used to keep cells turgid. 
A) used as a solvent. 
B) used as a hydrogen source in photosynthesis. 
C) lost during transpiration. 
D) converted to CO₂. 
E) used to keep cells turgid.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is not true about mycorrhizae?

Accepted Answer

A) Ectomycorrhizae form a dense sheet over the plant root. 
B) Arbuscular mycorrhizae penetrate cell walls of the root cortex. 
C) Roots can form a mycorrhizal symbiotic relationship with all species of fungi. 
D) Fungi and bacteria can interact in ways that help plants respond to stress. 
E) Treating seeds with mycorrhizal fungi can improve crop yield. 
A) Ectomycorrhizae form a dense sheet over the plant root. 
B) Arbuscular mycorrhizae penetrate cell walls of the root cortex. 
C) Roots can form a mycorrhizal symbiotic relationship with all species of fungi. 
D) Fungi and bacteria can interact in ways that help plants respond to stress. 
E) Treating seeds with mycorrhizal fungi can improve crop yield.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

A) the mineral is a micronutrient. 
B) the mineral is very mobile within the plant. 
C) the mineral is required for chlorophyll synthesis. 
D) the mineral is a macronutrient. 
E) the older leaves are in direct sunlight. 
A) the mineral is a micronutrient. 
B) the mineral is very mobile within the plant. 
C) the mineral is required for chlorophyll synthesis. 
D) the mineral is a macronutrient. 
E) the older leaves are in direct sunlight.

Question 11

A soil can be amended to reduce minerals from leaching into the water table by adding

Accepted Answer

A) humus. 
B) sand. 
C) mycorrhizae. 
D) nitrogen. 
E) silt. 
A) humus. 
B) sand. 
C) mycorrhizae. 
D) nitrogen. 
E) silt.

Question 12

A young farmer purchases some land in a relatively arid area and is interested in earning a reasonable profit for many years. Which of the following strategies would best allow the farmer to achieve such a goal?

Accepted Answer

A) establishing an extensive irrigation system 
B) using plenty of the best fertilizers 
C) finding a way to sell all parts of crop plants 
D) selecting crops adapted to arid areas 
E) converting hillsides into fields 
A) establishing an extensive irrigation system 
B) using plenty of the best fertilizers 
C) finding a way to sell all parts of crop plants 
D) selecting crops adapted to arid areas 
E) converting hillsides into fields

Question 13

The figure below shows the results of a study to determine the effect of soil air spaces on plant growth.
  
-Looking at the data in the above figure, and recalling what you learned about the composition of soils, you come to the conclusion that the best type of soil for plant growth would be

Accepted Answer

A) finely weathered rock particles and sand. 
B) sand. 
C) loam. 
D) clay. 
E) C horizon. 
A) finely weathered rock particles and sand. 
B) sand. 
C) loam. 
D) clay. 
E) C horizon.

Question 14

Which of the following is not a function of rhizobacteria?

Accepted Answer

A) produce hormones that stimulate plant growth 
B) produce antibiotics that protect roots from disease 
C) absorb toxic metals 
D) carry out nitrogen fixation 
E) supply growing roots with glucose 
A) produce hormones that stimulate plant growth 
B) produce antibiotics that protect roots from disease 
C) absorb toxic metals 
D) carry out nitrogen fixation 
E) supply growing roots with glucose

Question 15

Most of the dry weight of a plant is the result of uptake of

Accepted Answer

A) water and minerals through root hairs. 
B) water and minerals through mycorrhizae. 
C) CO₂ through stoma. 
D) CO₂ and O₂ through stomata in leaves. 
E) carbohydrates in the root hairs and concentration in the root cortex. 
A) water and minerals through root hairs. 
B) water and minerals through mycorrhizae. 
C) CO₂ through stoma. 
D) CO₂ and O₂ through stomata in leaves. 
E) carbohydrates in the root hairs and concentration in the root cortex.

Question 16

Epiphytes are

Accepted Answer

A) fungi that attack plants. 
B) fungi that form mutualistic associations with roots. 
C) nonphotosynthetic parasitic plants. 
D) plants that capture insects. 
E) plants that grow on other plants. 
A) fungi that attack plants. 
B) fungi that form mutualistic associations with roots. 
C) nonphotosynthetic parasitic plants. 
D) plants that capture insects. 
E) plants that grow on other plants.

Question 17

The earliest vascular plants on land had underground stems (rhizomes)but no roots. Water and mineral nutrients were most likely obtained by

Accepted Answer

A) absorption by hairs and trichomes. 
B) diffusion through stomata. 
C) absorption by mycorrhizae. 
D) osmosis through the root hairs. 
E) diffusion across the cuticle of the rhizome. 
A) absorption by hairs and trichomes. 
B) diffusion through stomata. 
C) absorption by mycorrhizae. 
D) osmosis through the root hairs. 
E) diffusion across the cuticle of the rhizome.

Question 18

If a plant is infected with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, what is the most probable effect on the plant?

Accepted Answer

A) It gets chlorosis. 
B) It dies. 
C) It is supplied with increased essential elements from the soil. 
D) It will likely grow faster. 
E) It becomes flaccid due to the loss of water and nutrients from the roots. 
A) It gets chlorosis. 
B) It dies. 
C) It is supplied with increased essential elements from the soil. 
D) It will likely grow faster. 
E) It becomes flaccid due to the loss of water and nutrients from the roots.

Question 19

Which of the following would be the most effective strategy to remove toxic heavy metals from a soil?

Accepted Answer

A) heavy irrigation to leach out the heavy metals 
B) application of fertilizers to compete with heavy metal uptake 
C) application of sulphur to lower the soil pH and precipitate the heavy metals 
D) adding plant species that have the ability to take up and volatilize heavy metals 
E) inoculating soil with mycorrhizae to avoid heavy metal uptake 
A) heavy irrigation to leach out the heavy metals 
B) application of fertilizers to compete with heavy metal uptake 
C) application of sulphur to lower the soil pH and precipitate the heavy metals 
D) adding plant species that have the ability to take up and volatilize heavy metals 
E) inoculating soil with mycorrhizae to avoid heavy metal uptake

Question 20

The enzyme complex nitrogenase catalyzes the reaction that reduces atmospheric nitrogen to

Accepted Answer

A) N₂. 
B) NH₃. 
C) NO₂. 
D) NO⁺. 
E) NO⁻. 
A) N₂. 
B) NH₃. 
C) NO₂. 
D) NO⁺. 
E) NO⁻.

Exam 37: Soil and Plant Nutrition

The NPK percentages on a package of fertilizer refer to the

For this pair of items, choose the option that best describes their relationship. I. the average size of particles that constitute silt II. the average size of particles that constitute clay

The figure below shows the results of a study to determine the effect of soil air spaces on plant growth. -The data in the above figure indicate that the plant

For this pair of items, choose the option that best describes their relationship. I. the amount of nitrogen in a fertilizer marked "15-10-5" II. the amount of nitrogen in a fertilizer marked "15-5-5"

When performing a mineral nutrition experiment, researchers use water from a glass still. Why is it not a good idea to use regular distilled water from a stainless steel still?

What are epiphytes?

Most of the water taken up by a plant is

Which of the following statements is not true about mycorrhizae?

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

A soil can be amended to reduce minerals from leaching into the water table by adding

A young farmer purchases some land in a relatively arid area and is interested in earning a reasonable profit for many years. Which of the following strategies would best allow the farmer to achieve such a goal?

The figure below shows the results of a study to determine the effect of soil air spaces on plant growth. -Looking at the data in the above figure, and recalling what you learned about the composition of soils, you come to the conclusion that the best type of soil for plant growth would be

Which of the following is not a function of rhizobacteria?

Most of the dry weight of a plant is the result of uptake of

Epiphytes are

The earliest vascular plants on land had underground stems (rhizomes)but no roots. Water and mineral nutrients were most likely obtained by

If a plant is infected with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, what is the most probable effect on the plant?

Which of the following would be the most effective strategy to remove toxic heavy metals from a soil?

The enzyme complex nitrogenase catalyzes the reaction that reduces atmospheric nitrogen to

Introduction: Evolution and Themes of Biology

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Structure and Function

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

Dna Tools and Biotechnology

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent With Modification: a Darwinian View of Life

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

The History of Life on Earth

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land

Plant Diversity Ii: the Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi

An Overview of Animal Diversity

An Introduction to Invertebrates

The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants

Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Osmoregulation and Excretion

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signalling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behaviour

An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Conservation Biology and Global Change

Filters