Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes the cellularity of protists?

Accepted Answer

Protists can be unicellular, multicellular, or colonial.

Question 2

Secondary endosymbiosis is a process important in protist evolution. Which of the following best describes secondary endosymbiosis?

Accepted Answer

A eukaryotic cell engulfs another eukaryotic cell that already contains a primary endosymbiont.

Question 3

Which protist group evolved through secondary endosymbiosis involving a red alga?

Accepted Answer

Brown algae

Question 4

Plasmodium, an apicomplexan, is responsible for causing which disease?

Accepted Answer

Malaria

Question 5

During the life cycle of Plasmodium, which stage infects human red blood cells?

Accepted Answer

Merozoite

Question 6

Which of the following is a key characteristic of the Excavata supergroup?

Accepted Answer

Modified mitochondria or unique flagella

Question 7

Which protist group is classified under the SAR supergroup and is known for its glass-like cell walls composed of silica?

Accepted Answer

Diatoms

Question 8

A student observes a protist with two nuclei and multiple flagella, lacking functional mitochondria. To which group does this organism most likely belong?

Accepted Answer

Diplomonads (Excavata)

Question 9

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the reproduction of protists?

Accepted Answer

Protists can reproduce both sexually and asexually.

Question 10

Which supergroup includes both animals and fungi, as well as certain protists?

Accepted Answer

Unikonta

Question 11

Cellular slime molds and plasmodial slime molds are both classified as Amoebozoans. Which statement correctly distinguishes their life cycles?

Accepted Answer

Cellular slime molds aggregate as individual cells to form a multicellular structure, while plasmodial slime molds form a single, multinucleate mass.

Question 12

Which structure in the plasmodial slime mold life cycle is diploid?

Accepted Answer

Plasmodium

Question 13

Which group is considered the closest living relatives of plants?

Accepted Answer

Charophytes

Question 14

A scientist discovers a protist with chloroplasts surrounded by four membranes. Which evolutionary process most likely explains this observation?

Accepted Answer

Secondary endosymbiosis

Question 15

Which of the following equations best represents the process of sexual reproduction in protists, involving the fusion of two haploid cells?

Accepted Answer

$$n + n \rightarrow 2n$$

Question 16

Which protist group is known for causing harmful algal blooms that can lead to fish kills and human health issues?

Accepted Answer

Dinoflagellates

Question 17

A patient presents with symptoms of amoebic dysentery. Which protist is most likely responsible for this disease?

Accepted Answer

Entamoeba

Question 18

Which of the following is a characteristic feature of Stramenopiles?

Accepted Answer

Presence of one hairy and one smooth flagellum

Question 19

Which protist group is most likely to be found forming extensive deposits of calcium carbonate shells in marine environments?

Accepted Answer

Forams (Rhizarians)

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the diversity of protists?

Accepted Answer

Protists are highly diverse, including organisms with various modes of nutrition, reproduction, and cellularity.

Protists: Diversity, Classification, and Evolutionary Relationships

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