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1. A group of cells having a common origin and performing a similar function is called a
A. Tissue
B. Organ
C. Organism
D. Organ system
Answer: A. Tissue
Explanation: A tissue is defined as a group of cells that share a common origin and generally perform a specific, similar function within an organism.
2. Plant tissues are broadly classified into two main types based on their ability to divide:
A. Meristematic and permanent tissues
B. Epidermal and vascular tissues only
C. Simple and complex tissues only
D. Xylem and phloem only
Answer: A. Meristematic and permanent tissues
Explanation: Plant tissues are broadly divided into meristematic tissues (actively dividing cells) and permanent tissues (cells that have lost the ability to divide and are specialized for specific functions).
3. Meristematic tissue present at the tips of roots and shoots, responsible for increase in length, is called
A. Apical meristem
B. Lateral meristem
C. Intercalary meristem
D. Ground meristem
Answer: A. Apical meristem
Explanation: Apical meristem is present at the growing tips of roots and shoots and is responsible for the primary growth (increase in length) of the plant.
4. Meristematic tissue found between mature tissues, often at the base of leaves or internodes (e.g., in grasses), is called
A. Intercalary meristem
B. Apical meristem
C. Lateral meristem
D. Primary meristem
Answer: A. Intercalary meristem
Explanation: Intercalary meristem occurs between regions of permanent (mature) tissue, commonly found at the nodes of grasses, and contributes to further elongation.
5. Lateral meristem, responsible for increase in girth (secondary growth) of stems and roots, includes
A. Vascular cambium and cork cambium
B. Apical meristem only
C. Intercalary meristem only
D. Ground tissue only
Answer: A. Vascular cambium and cork cambium
Explanation: Lateral meristems, including the vascular cambium and cork cambium, are located along the sides of stems and roots and are responsible for secondary growth (increase in girth/thickness).
6. Simple permanent tissue made up of thin-walled, living, and relatively unspecialized cells is called
A. Parenchyma
B. Collenchyma
C. Sclerenchyma
D. Xylem
Answer: A. Parenchyma
Explanation: Parenchyma is the most common simple permanent tissue, consisting of living, thin-walled cells that are relatively unspecialized and often involved in storage or photosynthesis.
7. Simple permanent tissue with unevenly thickened corner walls, providing mechanical support especially in young, growing plant parts, is called
A. Collenchyma
B. Parenchyma
C. Sclerenchyma
D. Phloem
Answer: A. Collenchyma
Explanation: Collenchyma cells have unevenly thickened corners (due to cellulose and pectin deposits) and provide mechanical strength while still allowing flexibility, common in young stems and leaf petioles.
8. Simple permanent tissue made up of dead cells with thick, lignified walls, providing rigidity and mechanical strength, is called
A. Sclerenchyma
B. Parenchyma
C. Collenchyma
D. Cambium
Answer: A. Sclerenchyma
Explanation: Sclerenchyma cells are dead at maturity, with thick, lignified secondary walls, providing significant mechanical strength and rigidity to plant parts.
9. Complex permanent tissue that conducts water and mineral nutrients upward from roots to other plant parts is called
A. Xylem
B. Phloem
C. Parenchyma
D. Epidermis
Answer: A. Xylem
Explanation: Xylem is a complex conducting tissue primarily responsible for the transport of water and dissolved minerals from the roots upward throughout the plant.
10. Complex permanent tissue that transports food (mainly sucrose) manufactured in leaves to other parts of the plant is called
A. Phloem
B. Xylem
C. Collenchyma
D. Sclerenchyma
Answer: A. Phloem
Explanation: Phloem is a complex tissue responsible for translocating food materials, mainly sugars produced during photosynthesis, from leaves to other parts of the plant, including storage organs.
11. Xylem is composed of four main types of cells: tracheids, vessels, xylem fibres, and
A. Xylem parenchyma
B. Sieve tubes
C. Companion cells
D. Phloem fibres
Answer: A. Xylem parenchyma
Explanation: Xylem tissue is made up of four types of elements: tracheids, vessels (both conducting), xylem fibres (support), and xylem parenchyma (living cells for storage).
12. Phloem is composed of sieve tube elements, companion cells, phloem fibres, and
A. Phloem parenchyma
B. Tracheids
C. Vessels
D. Xylem parenchyma
Answer: A. Phloem parenchyma
Explanation: Phloem consists of sieve tube elements (main conducting cells), companion cells (assist sieve tubes), phloem fibres (support), and phloem parenchyma (storage).
13. Sieve tube elements in the phloem are unique in that they are living cells but lack a
A. Nucleus at maturity
B. Cell wall
C. Cytoplasm entirely
D. Cell membrane
Answer: A. Nucleus at maturity
Explanation: Sieve tube elements are living cells specialized for conducting food materials, but interestingly, they lose their nucleus at maturity and rely on adjoining companion cells to carry out essential cellular functions.
14. The outermost protective layer of cells covering the entire plant body is called the
A. Epidermis
B. Cortex
C. Pith
D. Endodermis
Answer: A. Epidermis
Explanation: The epidermis is the outermost layer of cells that covers and protects all parts of the plant (roots, stems, leaves, flowers), often secreting a waxy layer called the cuticle.
15. Small pores present in the epidermis of leaves, mainly responsible for gaseous exchange and transpiration, are called
A. Stomata
B. Lenticels
C. Trichomes
D. Nodes
Answer: A. Stomata
Explanation: Stomata are tiny pores present mainly in the leaf epidermis, each bounded by two guard cells, and they regulate gas exchange and water loss through transpiration.
16. The specialized cells that surround and regulate the opening and closing of each stoma are called
A. Guard cells
B. Companion cells
C. Trichomes
D. Sieve cells
Answer: A. Guard cells
Explanation: Guard cells are specialized, typically bean-shaped epidermal cells that surround each stomatal pore and regulate its opening and closing, controlling transpiration and gas exchange.
17. In a dicot root, the vascular tissue arrangement typically shows a limited number of xylem bundles, usually
A. 2 to 4 (diarch to tetrarch)
B. Always more than 10 (polyarch)
C. Only 1 (monarch)
D. Randomly scattered throughout the ground tissue
Answer: A. 2 to 4 (diarch to tetrarch)
Explanation: In a typical dicot root, the number of xylem bundles (protoxylem groups) is usually limited, ranging from diarch (2) to tetrarch (4), distinguishing it from monocot roots.
18. In a monocot root, the vascular bundles are typically arranged
A. In a large number (polyarch condition)
B. In only 2 to 4 groups (diarch/tetrarch)
C. Scattered randomly with no pattern at all
D. Absent entirely
Answer: A. In a large number (polyarch condition)
Explanation: Monocot roots typically show a polyarch condition, with many (usually more than six) xylem and phloem bundles arranged alternately, unlike the limited number seen in dicot roots.
19. In a typical dicot stem, vascular bundles are arranged
A. In a ring, and are conjoint, collateral, and open (with cambium present)
B. Scattered randomly throughout the ground tissue
C. In a single central bundle only
D. Absent altogether
Answer: A. In a ring, and are conjoint, collateral, and open (with cambium present)
Explanation: In dicot stems, vascular bundles are arranged in a ring around the central pith and are conjoint, collateral, and open, having a cambium layer between xylem and phloem, allowing secondary growth.
20. In a typical monocot stem, vascular bundles are usually
A. Scattered irregularly throughout the ground tissue and are closed (lacking cambium)
B. Arranged in a distinct single ring, with cambium present
C. Absent altogether
D. Present only at the very centre of the stem
Answer: A. Scattered irregularly throughout the ground tissue and are closed (lacking cambium)
Explanation: In monocot stems, vascular bundles are scattered throughout the ground tissue rather than arranged in a ring, and they are closed, lacking a cambium, which is why monocots typically do not show secondary growth.
21. Secondary growth, the increase in girth of stems and roots in many dicots and gymnosperms, is mainly due to the activity of the
A. Vascular cambium and cork cambium
B. Apical meristem only
C. Epidermis only
D. Pith
Answer: A. Vascular cambium and cork cambium
Explanation: Secondary growth, resulting in increased girth (thickness) of the stem or root, occurs due to the activity of lateral meristems, mainly the vascular cambium (producing secondary xylem and phloem) and cork cambium (producing periderm).
22. In woody dicot stems, the annual rings visible in a cross-section are formed due to
A. Seasonal variation in the activity of the vascular cambium, producing spring wood and autumn wood
B. Random cell division with no seasonal pattern
C. Activity of the epidermis alone
D. Presence of stomata only
Answer: A. Seasonal variation in the activity of the vascular cambium, producing spring wood and autumn wood
Explanation: Annual rings are formed because the vascular cambium is more active in spring (producing lighter, less dense spring wood) and less active in autumn (producing darker, denser autumn wood), creating a visible ring pattern each year.
23. Why can annual growth rings be used to estimate the age of a tree?
A. Because typically one ring, consisting of spring wood and autumn wood together, is formed each year
B. Because rings are formed randomly with no relation to time at all
C. Because rings only form once in a tree's entire lifetime
D. Because rings are visible only in monocot stems, which don't have a fixed lifespan
Answer: A. Because typically one ring, consisting of spring wood and autumn wood together, is formed each year
Explanation: Since the vascular cambium's activity fluctuates predictably each year with seasonal changes, one distinct growth ring (early plus late wood) is generally added annually, allowing the count of rings to estimate a tree's age.
24. Cork, or phellem, produced by the cork cambium during secondary growth, functions mainly to
A. Provide a protective, impermeable covering to the stem, replacing the epidermis
B. Conduct water upward from the roots
C. Photosynthesize and produce food
D. Transport food materials throughout the plant
Answer: A. Provide a protective, impermeable covering to the stem, replacing the epidermis
Explanation: Cork cells, produced by the cork cambium, have suberin deposited in their walls, making them impermeable to water and gases, effectively replacing the epidermis as a protective covering in older stems.
25. Root hairs, involved in the absorption of water and minerals, are formed as extensions of cells in the
A. Epiblema (root epidermis)
B. Cortex
C. Endodermis
D. Pith
Answer: A. Epiblema (root epidermis)
Explanation: Root hairs are unicellular, tubular extensions of the root epidermal cells (epiblema), significantly increasing the surface area available for the absorption of water and minerals from soil.
26. The innermost layer of the cortex in a root, forming a distinct boundary around the vascular tissue with characteristic thickenings called Casparian strips, is called the
A. Endodermis
B. Epidermis
C. Pericycle
D. Pith
Answer: A. Endodermis
Explanation: The endodermis is the innermost cortical layer in a root, characterized by Casparian strips (waxy, suberin thickenings) on the radial and tangential walls, which regulate the movement of water and minerals into the vascular tissue.
27. The layer of cells located just inside the endodermis, from which lateral roots typically originate, is called the
A. Pericycle
B. Pith
C. Epidermis
D. Cortex
Answer: A. Pericycle
Explanation: The pericycle, a layer of cells located just inside the endodermis, gives rise to lateral roots and also contributes to secondary growth activities like formation of vascular cambium in dicot roots.
28. Why do desert (xerophytic) plants often have a thick, multi-layered epidermis and sunken stomata?
A. To minimize water loss through transpiration in arid conditions
B. To maximize water loss and cool the plant quickly
C. To increase the rate of photosynthesis regardless of water availability
D. To attract more pollinators to the flowers
Answer: A. To minimize water loss through transpiration in arid conditions
Explanation: Xerophytic (desert) plants often develop adaptations like a thick, waxy, multi-layered epidermis and sunken stomata to significantly reduce water loss through transpiration, helping them survive in water-scarce environments.
29. Why are vessels in xylem generally considered more efficient at water conduction than tracheids?
A. Vessels are multicellular tubes with perforated end walls, allowing more continuous and rapid flow of water compared to individual tracheid cells
B. Vessels have thicker walls than tracheids, blocking water flow
C. Vessels are living cells while tracheids are always dead, making tracheids faster
D. Vessels are found only in gymnosperms, which conduct water faster than angiosperms
Answer: A. Vessels are multicellular tubes with perforated end walls, allowing more continuous and rapid flow of water compared to individual tracheid cells
Explanation: Vessels are composed of multiple cells joined end-to-end with perforated end walls, forming long, continuous tubes that permit faster and more efficient water flow compared to the single, elongated, tapering tracheid cells that rely on pits for water movement between cells.
30. Why does the study of internal plant structure (anatomy) matter for understanding how a plant functions, such as water transport or support?
A. Because the specific arrangement, type, and distribution of tissues directly determine how efficiently a plant can transport substances and withstand mechanical stress
B. Because internal structure has no relation to how a plant transports water or gains support
C. Because all plant tissues are functionally identical regardless of their arrangement
D. Because only external morphology, not internal anatomy, determines a plant's function
Answer: A. Because the specific arrangement, type, and distribution of tissues directly determine how efficiently a plant can transport substances and withstand mechanical stress
Explanation: The internal anatomical arrangement, such as the position of vascular bundles, the type of supporting tissue (like sclerenchyma or collenchyma), and the distribution of conducting cells (xylem/phloem), directly influences a plant's efficiency in transporting water, nutrients, and food, along with its overall mechanical strength and support.
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