Question 1

All of the following contributed to the dust bowl in the American southwest during the 1930s except

Accepted Answer

A)  overgrazing by cattle. 
B)  clear-cutting of forest trees. 
C)  plowing of native grasses. 
D)  planting of field crops. 
E)  lack of soil moisture. 
A)  overgrazing by cattle. 
B)  clear-cutting of forest trees. 
C)  plowing of native grasses. 
D)  planting of field crops. 
E)  lack of soil moisture.

Question 2

A growing plant exhibits chlorosis of the leaves, especially the older, more mature ones. The chlorosis is probably due to a deficiency of which of the following macronutrients?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon 
B)  oxygen 
C)  nitrogen 
D)  calcium 
E)  hydrogen 
A)  carbon 
B)  oxygen 
C)  nitrogen 
D)  calcium 
E)  hydrogen

Question 3

Figure 37.1 shows the results of a study to determine the effect of soil air spaces on plant growth.
   
Figure 37.1
-The data in Figure 37.1 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.

Question 4

A group of 10 tomato plants are germinated and maintained in a large tray with no drainage. After several weeks they all begin to wilt and die despite repeated watering and fertilization. The most likely cause of this die-off is

Accepted Answer

A)  competition for resources. 
B)  anoxia. 
C)  organic nutrient depletion. 
D)  no room left for root growth. 
E)  buildup of toxic substances in the tray. 
A)  competition for resources. 
B)  anoxia. 
C)  organic nutrient depletion. 
D)  no room left for root growth. 
E)  buildup of toxic substances in the tray.

Question 5

Which of the following soil minerals is most likely leached away during a hard rain?

Accepted Answer

A)  Na⁺ 
B)  K⁺ 
C)  Ca⁺⁺ 
D)  NO₃⁻ 
E)  H⁺ 
A)  Na⁺ 
B)  K⁺ 
C)  Ca⁺⁺ 
D)  NO₃⁻ 
E)  H⁺

Question 6

Which two elements make up more than 90% of the dry weight of plants?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon and nitrogen 
B)  oxygen and hydrogen 
C)  nitrogen and oxygen 
D)  oxygen and carbon 
E)  carbon and potassium 
A)  carbon and nitrogen 
B)  oxygen and hydrogen 
C)  nitrogen and oxygen 
D)  oxygen and carbon 
E)  carbon and potassium

Question 7

Rhizobia and mycorrhizae share all of the following features except

Accepted Answer

A)  they both benefit by receiving carbohydrate from the plant. 
B)  many are host-specific. 
C)  they both become parasitic in nutrient-rich environments. 
D)  they both enhance the growth of most plants. 
E)  they both are found in most ecosystems of the world. 
A)  they both benefit by receiving carbohydrate from the plant. 
B)  many are host-specific. 
C)  they both become parasitic in nutrient-rich environments. 
D)  they both enhance the growth of most plants. 
E)  they both are found in most ecosystems of the world.

Question 8

Rhizobia, actinomycetes, and cyanobacteria all share the common feature that they can

Accepted Answer

A)  increase water uptake in plants. 
B)  increase nutrient availability in the soil for plants. 
C)  kill parasites in the soil. 
D)  exist in extreme environments. 
E)  fix atmospheric nitrogen. 
A)  increase water uptake in plants. 
B)  increase nutrient availability in the soil for plants. 
C)  kill parasites in the soil. 
D)  exist in extreme environments. 
E)  fix atmospheric nitrogen.

Question 9

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 sulfur 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 sulfur 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 10

For this pair of items, choose the option that best describes their relationship.
(A)The average size of particles that constitute silt
(B)The average size of particles that constitute clay

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

Most of the mass of organic material of a plant comes from

Accepted Answer

A)  water. 
B)  carbon dioxide. 
C)  soil minerals. 
D)  atmospheric oxygen. 
E)  nitrogen. 
A)  water. 
B)  carbon dioxide. 
C)  soil minerals. 
D)  atmospheric oxygen. 
E)  nitrogen.

Question 12

A soil well suited for the growth of most plants would have all of the following properties except

Accepted Answer

A)  abundant humus. 
B)  air spaces. 
C)  good drainage. 
D)  high cation exchange capacity. 
E)  a high pH. 
A)  abundant humus. 
B)  air spaces. 
C)  good drainage. 
D)  high cation exchange capacity. 
E)  a high pH.

Question 13

A woodlot was sprayed with a fungicide. What would be the most serious effect of such spraying?

Accepted Answer

A)  a decrease in food for animals that eat mushrooms 
B)  an increase in rates of wood decay 
C)  a decrease in tree growth due to the death of mycorrhizae 
D)  an increase in the number of decomposing bacteria 
E)  a decrease in food for animals that eat mushrooms, and an increase in rates of wood decay 
A)  a decrease in food for animals that eat mushrooms 
B)  an increase in rates of wood decay 
C)  a decrease in tree growth due to the death of mycorrhizae 
D)  an increase in the number of decomposing bacteria 
E)  a decrease in food for animals that eat mushrooms, and an increase in rates of wood decay

Question 14

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 15

Which of the following habitats would most likely have a high proportion of species of plants that are in symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria?

Accepted Answer

A)  anoxic soils such as fens and bogs 
B)  nutrient-limiting soils such as wet tropical rain forests 
C)  loamy soils such as temperate forests 
D)  agriculturally productive regions that have gone fallow 
E)  alpine coniferous forests 
A)  anoxic soils such as fens and bogs 
B)  nutrient-limiting soils such as wet tropical rain forests 
C)  loamy soils such as temperate forests 
D)  agriculturally productive regions that have gone fallow 
E)  alpine coniferous forests

Question 16

Which of the following is of least concern to a researcher in a mineral nutrition experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  purity of the chemicals used to make the nutrient solutions 
B)  purity of the water used to make the nutrient solutions 
C)  chemical inertness of the container used to make and store the nutrient solutions 
D)  ability of a laboratory balance to weigh very small quantities of chemicals 
E)  medium in which the test seedlings were grown 
A)  purity of the chemicals used to make the nutrient solutions 
B)  purity of the water used to make the nutrient solutions 
C)  chemical inertness of the container used to make and store the nutrient solutions 
D)  ability of a laboratory balance to weigh very small quantities of chemicals 
E)  medium in which the test seedlings were grown

Question 17

Upregulation of leghemoglobin biosynthesis in a leguminous species would most likely indicate

Accepted Answer

A)  the plant is suffering from a mineral deficiency. 
B)  the successful inoculation of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. 
C)  the plant is suffering from water stress. 
D)  the plant has been infected with mycorrhizae. 
E)  an increase in the biosynthesis of amino acids. 
A)  the plant is suffering from a mineral deficiency. 
B)  the successful inoculation of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. 
C)  the plant is suffering from water stress. 
D)  the plant has been infected with mycorrhizae. 
E)  an increase in the biosynthesis of amino acids.

Question 18

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 19

What is a major function of magnesium in plants?

Accepted Answer

A)  to be a component of lignin-biosynthetic enzymes 
B)  to be a component of DNA and RNA 
C)  to be a component of chlorophyll 
D)  to be active in amino acid formation 
E)  to be required to regenerate phosphoenolpyruvate in C₄ and CAM plants 
A)  to be a component of lignin-biosynthetic enzymes 
B)  to be a component of DNA and RNA 
C)  to be a component of chlorophyll 
D)  to be active in amino acid formation 
E)  to be required to regenerate phosphoenolpyruvate in C₄ and CAM plants

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the general role of micronutrients in plants?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are cofactors in enzymatic reactions. 
B)  They are necessary for essential regulatory functions. 
C)  They prevent chlorosis. 
D)  They are components of nucleic acids. 
E)  They are necessary for the formation of cell walls. 
A)  They are cofactors in enzymatic reactions. 
B)  They are necessary for essential regulatory functions. 
C)  They prevent chlorosis. 
D)  They are components of nucleic acids. 
E)  They are necessary for the formation of cell walls.

Exam 37: Soil and Plant Nutrition

All of the following contributed to the dust bowl in the American southwest during the 1930s except

A growing plant exhibits chlorosis of the leaves, especially the older, more mature ones. The chlorosis is probably due to a deficiency of which of the following macronutrients?

Figure 37.1 shows the results of a study to determine the effect of soil air spaces on plant growth. Figure 37.1 -The data in Figure 37.1 indicate that the plant

A group of 10 tomato plants are germinated and maintained in a large tray with no drainage. After several weeks they all begin to wilt and die despite repeated watering and fertilization. The most likely cause of this die-off is

Which of the following soil minerals is most likely leached away during a hard rain?

Which two elements make up more than 90% of the dry weight of plants?

Rhizobia and mycorrhizae share all of the following features except

Rhizobia, actinomycetes, and cyanobacteria all share the common feature that they can

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

For this pair of items, choose the option that best describes their relationship. (A)The average size of particles that constitute silt (B)The average size of particles that constitute clay

Most of the mass of organic material of a plant comes from

A soil well suited for the growth of most plants would have all of the following properties except

A woodlot was sprayed with a fungicide. What would be the most serious effect of such spraying?

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

Which of the following habitats would most likely have a high proportion of species of plants that are in symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria?

Which of the following is of least concern to a researcher in a mineral nutrition experiment?

Upregulation of leghemoglobin biosynthesis in a leguminous species would most likely indicate

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

What is a major function of magnesium in plants?

Which of the following best describes the general role of micronutrients in plants?

Introduction: Themes in the Study of Life

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

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 Signaling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behavior

An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Conservation Biology and Global Change

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