Chapter 01

What Is Plant Biology? 

 
Multiple Choice Questions 

1.  The first microscopes were produced by ________________, who ground and fitted lenses
in a small metal tube.  A.  Anton van Leeuwenhoek B.  Dutch spectacle makers C.  Linnaeus
D.  Carl Zeiss E.  Otto Brunfels

2.  The early scientist who first demonstrated experimentally that plants do not have the same
modes of nutrition as animals was  A.  Nehemiah Grew. B.  Carl Willdenow. C.  Alexander
von Humboldt. D.  Sir J. D. Hooker. E.  J. B. van Helmont.

 
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3. Plant _______ study plant relationships, identify and classify plants into groups based on
genetic similarity, and name plants according to these groups. A. taxonomistsB. physiologists
C. anatomistsD. morphologistsE. geographers

 
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4. The science that deals with the form, structure, and embryology of plants is A. plant
taxonomy.B. plant physiology.C. plant genetics.D. cytology.E. plant morphology.

 
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5.  The scientific method begins with  A.  reading scientific journals B.  substantiated
observations that aren’t explained by existing principles or theories C.  a tentative, unproven
explanation of an observation D.  restating a general theory in understandable terms E.  testing
hypotheses generated to explain observations

 
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6.  The study of plants and their impact on humans is important because plants  A.  provide
food, shelter, and clothing B.  provide the ecological support system linking all living
organisms in their environment C.  contribute to the natural beauty of the world and play a
role in many recreational pursuits D.  influence world climate E.  all of the choices are correct

 
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7. Which sequence generally describes the steps of the scientific method? A. hypothesis,

observation, testing, retestingB. testing, observation, hypothesis, retestingC. observation,
hypothesis, testing, retestingD. observation, testing, hypothesis, retestingE. observation,
writing, hypothesis, publishing

 
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8.  The objective of scientific research is described as  A.  collecting data B.  developing and
testing hypotheses C.  using human history to explain technological advances D.  using
scientific instrumentation such as microscopes E.  applying results to improve human lives

9. Which of the following scientists would more likely be concerned with the rate of
photosynthesis in leaves? A. plant anatomistB. plant physiologistC. foresterD. plant geneticist
E. plant geographer

 
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10. The Swedish botanist who produced the elements of our present system of naming and
classifying plants in the eighteenth century was A. Matt Johnson.B. Carolus Linnaeus.
C. Gustav Bjorklund.D. J. B. van Helmont.E. Olaf Anderson.

 
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11.  A theory is  A.  an educated guess. B.  an accumulation of data. C.  a modified hypothesis.
D.  a repeatable observation. E.  a group of generalizations or principles that help us
understand events in the natural world

 
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12. An early English botanist who described the structure of wood more precisely than any of
his predecessors was A. Nehemiah Grew.B. Sir Joseph D. Hooker.C. Charles Claude Smythe.
D. James Worthington.E. Anton L. Bortenschlager.

 
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13. Leeuwenhoek's microscopes could magnify objects up to A. 600 times.B. 500 times.

C. 400 times.D. 300 times.E. 200 times.

 
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14.  According to the scientific method, an hypothesis is  A.  a well supported idea expanded
from facts via reasoning but is not currently known to be entirely or universally true. B.  an
idea or explanation that is a basis for experimental investigation. C.  information that is
known and specific. D.  the last step in the scientific method that deals with collection of data.
E.  an experimentally demonstrated fact.

 
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15.  People who study the interaction of people and plants in their environment are
__________.  A.  ethnobotantists B.  plant physiologists C.  plant scientists D.  plant
taxonomists E.  horticulturalists

 
16.  ______________ is the scientific investigation of the biology of plants, algae, and fungi.  
A.  plant morphology B.  ecology C.  botany D.  cytology E.  ethnobotany

17.  Environmental scientists are developing technologies to convert ___________ into

__________ as a source of renewable, plant-based fuel.  A.  oil shale; diesel B.  cellulose and
starch; ethanol C.  petroleum products; gasoline D.  wind; electrical energy E.  hydropower;
electrical energy

18.  When human populations increase, they increase their impact on plants and other living
organisms by _______________________________________.  A.  using plants as fuel B. 
building homes C.  harvesting plants for food for themselves and their animals D.  replacing
plant communities with agricultural crops E.  all of the above

19.  Plant ecologists and NASA scientists are working together to develop
_________________ for space travel that use plants to recycle carbon dioxide and produce
oxygen.   A.  chemical carbon dioxide scrubbers B.  open pond systems C.  methane
generators D.  closed systems E.  water purification systems F.   

 
20.  If a catastrophe destroyed all green plants and algae on land and in the water, animal life
would be able to survive for approximately __________ before suffocating due to lack of
oxygen.  A.  6 months B.  1 year C.  6 years D.  11 years E.  100 years

 
 
True / False Questions 

21.  Plants can live without humans but humans cannot live without plants.  TRUE

22. Originally, the scientific method was considered to involve a routine series of steps. 
TRUE

 
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23. The noted Swedish botanist Linnaeus published his book, Species Plantarum, in the early
twentieth century. FALSE

 
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24. Plant morphology is a discipline that deals with the naming and classification of plants. 
FALSE

 
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25. The microscope was invented during the eighteenth century. FALSE

 
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26. Van Helmont concluded after his classical experiment with the willow tree that its increase
in weight had been due to the water it had absorbed. TRUE

 
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27. Science may be defined as “a search for knowledge of the natural world.” TRUE

 
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28. The term microscope was first used during the fifteenth century. FALSE

 
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29. Van Helmont's experiment with a willow branch demonstrated that the soil in which it
grew gained weight over time. FALSE

 
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30.  Sections of plant stems can detect ‘up’ and ‘down’ directions when producing new roots
and stems.  TRUE