Reproduction in Organisms — Practice Questions with Answers

Q1.

Grafting in plants is done to:

• A Boost the number of seeds a plant yields
• B Combine desirable traits of two varieties onto one plant
• C Increase the rate of chlorophyll synthesis in leaves
• D Generate an entirely new species through hybridization

Q2.

Spores in ferns are produced by:

• A Seeds formed after fertilization of the ovule
• B Pollen grains released from the anther
• C Meiosis in sporangia (on undersides of fronds)
• D Rhizome fragmentation alone, without spore formation

Q3.

In bryophytes (mosses), the dominant generation is the:

• A Sporophyte, which bears the capsule on a stalk
• B Gametophyte (the green plant you see)
• C Sporophyte and gametophyte in exactly equal proportion
• D The protonema stage, which dominates over both generations

Q4.

Seed dormancy mechanisms include:

• A Mainly prolonged dry storage conditions maintained for several full months prior to sowing the seed in most textbook accounts
• B Hard seed coat (physical), presence of germination inhibitors (chemical), requirement for cold stratification, or light requirement
• C Exposure to consistently high ambient temperature mainly, with few other environmental cues involved during normal conditions
• D A substantial lack of available oxygen occurring within the surrounding seed coat tissue over time as generally observed in typical laboratory settings

Q5.

The phenomenon of vivipary in plants refers to:

• A Two separate embryos developing within a single seed coat
• B Seed or embryo germinating while still attached to the parent plant
• C Plants producing mature seeds without ever forming flowers
• D Seeds that require exposure to fire before they can germinate

Q6.

A monoecious plant is one that:

• A Has mainly female flowers, typically requiring a separate male plant nearby in routine practice
• B Has mainly male flowers, relying on a separate female plant for seed set overall
• C Has both male and female flowers on the same individual plant (e.g., maize, cucumber)
• D Has mainly bisexual flowers with fused stamens and pistils throughout in most cases

Q7.

Gymnosperm seed development differs from angiosperm in lacking:

• A Pollen production, since gymnosperms rely on vegetative propagation
• B A fruit (seeds are naked, not enclosed in a fruit)
• C True seeds, producing only spore-like dispersal units instead
• D Embryo formation, with seeds remaining undifferentiated at release

Q8.

The sporophyte generation is dominant in:

• A Mainly mosses, where the sporophyte is sometimes thought to overshadow the gametophyte stage
• B All land plants (embryophytes), sometimes mistakenly thought to be without any exception at all
• C Ferns, seed plants, and gymnosperms (not mosses/liverworts where gametophyte dominates)
• D Mainly algae, which are sometimes mistakenly thought to lack a true alternation of generations

Q9.

Chemical ecology of seed dispersal involves:

• A Seeds producing toxic chemical compounds alone as their main documented adaptation specifically related to successful dispersal overall each season in the majority of cases studied
• B Seeds producing elaioisomes, fleshy fruits with colors targeting specific frugivores, or chemical repellents to keep non-dispersers away while attracting proper seed dispersers
• C Physical adaptations alone, such as hooked spines or feathery wings, occurring with little accompanying chemistry involved most times as widely reported in standard practice
• D Color signals alone, occurring largely without any accompanying chemical attractant compounds being produced by the plant itself under most conditions encountered as frequently observed in practice