Topic 1.6: Diversity of Organisms Questions

Both plant cells and fungal cells have a cell wall. What is the key difference in the material of these walls?

The diagram summarises the cell features of the four eukaryote kingdoms. An unknown organism has cells with a cellulose cell wall and chloroplasts, and its body is made of many cells. To which kingdom does it belong? [Diagram: bio-kingdoms]

In the scientific name Quercus robur (the English oak), which word is the genus?

State one structural feature that a flowering plant (angiosperm) has which a moss (bryophyte) lacks.

Two breeds of duck that look very different are bred together. Their ducklings grow up and successfully raise broods of their own. Outline why the two breeds belong to the same species.

A student uses this dichotomous key on a small animal. Step 1 — Body has jointed legs → go to Step 2 / Body has no jointed legs → go to Step 3 Step 2 — Three pairs of legs → Insect / Four pairs of legs → Spider Step 3 — Body inside a coiled shell → Snail / Body soft with no shell → Slug The animal has no jointed legs and carries a coiled shell. Which organism does the key identify?

Plants, animals, fungi and protists are all placed in the eukaryote group. What feature must their cells therefore share?

Which statement gives the complete biological definition of a species?

Outline what is meant by binomial nomenclature.

Which set of features would let you place an unfamiliar animal in the bird class with confidence?

An animal has a backbone, is covered in scales, breathes through gills, and uses fins to move through water. Which vertebrate class does it belong to?

A liger is produced when a lion and a tiger are crossed. What is the correct term for an offspring of two different species such as a liger?

A biologist observes a single Amoeba flow around a smaller protist, surround it and take it into a food vacuole. Which function of life does this observation best show?

Over several hours under a microscope, a young single-celled organism steadily increases in size and builds more cytoplasm before it is large enough to divide. Which function of life does this increase in size demonstrate?

This key sorts four pond vertebrates. Step 1 — Skin covered in wet scales and breathes with gills → Fish / Other skin → go to Step 2 Step 2 — Moist bare skin, no scales → Amphibian / Dry skin → go to Step 3 Step 3 — Dry scales → Reptile / Feathers → Bird An animal has wet scales and breathes using gills. Which group does the key key out?

A single-celled Euglena in pond water swims steadily toward a brighter, sunlit region. Which function of life does this directed movement best show?

What does the word 'dichotomous' tell you about how a dichotomous key is built?

A tiny chihuahua and a large great dane look very different, yet they can interbreed and produce fertile puppies. What does this tell you?

State what is meant by each of the following terms: (a) a hybrid, and (b) a sterile organism.

A zoo keeper describes an animal in the great-ape enclosure: it is covered in hair, the mother nurses her infant, and it has a backbone. Outline two features that identify this animal as a mammal.