Question 1

Which of the following statements best explains why Caulerpa is considered a threat to marine ecosystems when introduced outside its native range?

Accepted Answer

It grows rapidly and excludes other organisms, reducing biodiversity.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of protists?

Accepted Answer

They are all multicellular organisms.

Question 3

Which process is responsible for the origin of chloroplasts in protists?

Accepted Answer

Endosymbiosis

Question 4

A protist that engulfs its prey using pseudopods is most likely classified as a:

Accepted Answer

Predator

Question 5

Which of the following equations correctly represents the process of photosynthesis in protists?

Accepted Answer

$$6CO_2 + 6H_2O \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6$ + 6O_2$$

Question 6

Which group of protists is responsible for causing African sleeping sickness in humans?

Accepted Answer

Kinetoplastids

Question 7

A student observes a single-celled organism with two nuclei and multiple flagella in a water sample. Which protist group does this organism most likely belong to?

Accepted Answer

Diplomonads

Question 8

Which of the following best describes the ecological role of diatoms in aquatic environments?

Accepted Answer

They are significant contributors to global photosynthetic activity.

Question 9

Which protist group is characterized by the presence of hair-like projections on their flagella and includes both photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic members?

Accepted Answer

Stramenopiles

Question 10

A water sample contains protists that move using cilia and respond to environmental stimuli by reversing their movement. These protists are most likely:

Accepted Answer

Ciliates

Question 11

Which of the following best explains why red algae can thrive in deep, clear tropical waters?

Accepted Answer

They have pigments that absorb blue-green light efficiently.

Question 12

Which of the following is a real-world consequence of a population explosion of dinoflagellates?

Accepted Answer

Red tides that can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning in humans

Question 13

Which protist is a mutualist in the gut of termites, enabling them to digest wood?

Accepted Answer

A parabasalid

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the difference between acellular and cellular slime molds?

Accepted Answer

Acellular slime molds form a multinucleate mass, while cellular slime molds aggregate as independent cells.

Question 15

Which of the following is a correct statement about the evolutionary relationships of protists?

Accepted Answer

Protists are a diverse group that do not form a true clade.

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the role of secondary endosymbiosis in protist evolution?

Accepted Answer

It allowed nonphotosynthetic protists to acquire photosynthesis by engulfing a photosynthetic protist.

Question 17

Which of the following protists is responsible for causing 'beaver fever' in humans, and how is it transmitted?

Accepted Answer

Giardia, transmitted by ingesting water contaminated with cysts

Question 18

Which of the following best explains why marine phytoplankton are important to Earth's ecosystems?

Accepted Answer

They account for about 50% of all photosynthetic activity on Earth.

Question 19

Which of the following is a distinguishing feature of euglenids compared to other excavates?

Accepted Answer

They have both chloroplasts and mitochondria.

The Diversity of Protists (Chapter 21): Structure, Function, and Ecological Roles

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards