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Plant groups: algae, bryophytes, pteridophytes and gymnosperms: NEET MCQs with answers

105 questions on this topic of Diversity in Living World (NEET 2027 syllabus). Here are 12; tap one to see its answer and explanation.

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easy

1. The stem of Cycas is:

  1. Underground only
  2. Climbing
  3. Unbranched
  4. Highly branched
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Answer: (C) Unbranched

In Cycas the stem is unbranched, while in Pinus and Cedrus the stem is branched. Gymnosperms range from medium-sized trees to tall trees and shrubs.

NCERT Class 11

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2. Examine the following statements regarding the life cycle and morphology of gymnosperms: Statement I: Gymnosperms do not possess free-living independent gametophytes. Statement II: In gymnosperms, the pollen tube discharges the male gametes near the mouth of the archegonia within the ovules. Select the correct option:

  1. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
  2. Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
  3. Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
  4. Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct

Both statements are correct. In gymnosperms, the gametophytes retain themselves inside the sporangia on the sporophyte and do not have an independent, free-living existence. The pollen tube carries male gametes directly to the archegonia located inside the ovule.

hard

3. Which alga shows a diplontic life cycle?

  1. Ectocarpus
  2. Volvox
  3. Spirogyra
  4. Fucus
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Answer: (D) Fucus

Fucus is a diplontic alga, like seed plants. Volvox and Spirogyra are haplontic, while Ectocarpus, Polysiphonia and kelps are haplo-diplontic.

NCERT Class 11

medium

4. Chlorella, a unicellular alga rich in proteins, is used as food supplement:

  1. Only as fertiliser
  2. Only by cattle
  3. Even by space travellers
  4. Only for producing agar
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Answer: (C) Even by space travellers

Chlorella is a protein-rich food supplement used even by space travellers.

easy

5. Which among the following features is considered an evolutionary precursor to the seed habit in vascular cryptogams?

  1. Development of independent, photosynthetic prothallus
  2. Production of biflagellate antherozoids requiring surface water
  3. Presence of homospory with exosporic gametophytic development
  4. Retention of the female gametophyte on the parent sporophyte
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Answer: (D) Retention of the female gametophyte on the parent sporophyte

In heterosporous pteridophytes like Selaginella and Salvinia, the megaspore is retained within the megasporangium on the parent sporophyte, and the development of zygotes into young embryos takes place within the female gametophyte. This event is a crucial precursor to the seed habit.

hard

6. Consider the following four statements (A-D) about gymnosperms and identify how many of them are INCORRECT: (A) In Cycas, male cones and megasporophylls are borne on the same tree. (B) The gymnosperms include medium-sized trees, tall trees, and shrubs. (C) The giant redwood tree Sequoia is one of the tallest tree species. (D) Roots in some genera have fungal associations in the form of mycorrhiza (e.g., Cycas).

  1. One
  2. Three
  3. Two
  4. Four
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (C) Two

Statements A and D are incorrect. Cycas is dioecious, meaning male cones and megasporophylls are borne on different trees (Statement A is wrong). Mycorrhiza is associated with the roots of Pinus, whereas Cycas has specialized coralloid roots associated with cyanobacteria (Statement D is wrong). Statements B and C are correct.

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7. Select the correct group of homosporous pteridophytes among the following:

  1. Selaginella and Salvinia
  2. Dryopteris, Pteris and Lycopodium
  3. Equisetum and Marsilea
  4. Selaginella and Azolla
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (B) Dryopteris, Pteris and Lycopodium

The majority of pteridophytes, including Dryopteris, Pteris, Adiantum, and Lycopodium, produce only one kind of spore and are homosporous. Genera like Selaginella, Salvinia, Marsilea, and Azolla are heterosporous.

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8. Agar, used to grow microbes and in preparing ice-creams and jellies, is obtained from:

  1. Laminaria and Sargassum
  2. Gelidium and Gracilaria (red algae)
  3. Chlorella
  4. Spirogyra
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (B) Gelidium and Gracilaria (red algae)

Agar is obtained from the red algae Gelidium and Gracilaria; algin is obtained from brown algae and carrageen from red algae.

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9. Which among the following is a dioecious gymnosperm with unbranched stems and large pinnate leaves?

  1. Pinus
  2. Cycas
  3. Cedrus
  4. Ginkgo
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (B) Cycas

Cycas has an unbranched stem and pinnate leaves that persist for a few years. It is dioecious as male strobili and megasporophylls are borne on different trees (unlike Pinus which is monoecious and branched).

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10. Sphagnum, a moss, provides peat that has long been used as fuel, and because of its capacity to hold water it is used as:

  1. A source of agar
  2. Packing material for trans-shipment of living material
  3. A source of antibiotics
  4. A food supplement for astronauts
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Answer: (B) Packing material for trans-shipment of living material

Sphagnum peat is used as fuel and, being highly water-retentive, as packing material for transporting living material.

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11. Match the organisms in Column I with their distinct features in Column II and choose the correct option: Column I A. Chlamydomonas B. Gelidium C. Marchantia D. Ginkgo Column II 1. Gemma cups for vegetative reproduction 2. Agar production 3. Living fossil with motile sperms 4. Unicellular green alga

  1. A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
  2. A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
  3. A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
  4. A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (A) A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3

Chlamydomonas is a unicellular green alga; Gelidium produces commercial agar; Marchantia reproduces asexually via gemma cups; Ginkgo biloba is a gymnosperm often referred to as a living fossil.

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12. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the cell wall composition of different algal classes:

  1. In Chlorophyceae, the inner layer is made of cellulose and the outer layer consists of pectose.
  2. In Phaeophyceae, the inner layer of the wall contains calcium pectate while the outer layer lacks cellulose.
  3. In Rhodophyceae, the cell wall is composed of cellulose, pectins, and polysulphate esters.
  4. In Phaeophyceae, the cellulosic wall is usually covered on the outside by a gelatinous coating of algin.
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (B) In Phaeophyceae, the inner layer of the wall contains calcium pectate while the outer layer lacks cellulose.

In brown algae (Phaeophyceae), the cell wall consists of a cellulosic inner layer covered on the outside by a gelatinous coating of algin. Therefore, stating that the inner layer is calcium pectate and lacks cellulose is incorrect.

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