Part 1 — Fundamentals: Tissue Systems, Meristems & Cell Types (Questions 1–25)

Q1. Which tissue system forms the outer protective layer of plant body?

A) Dermal
B) Ground
C) Vascular
D) Meristematic
Answer: A
Explanation:

A) Correct — dermal system (epidermis/periderm) protects plant.
B) Ground = storage/support/photosynthesis.
C) Vascular = transport (xylem/phloem).
D) Meristematic = regions of cell division, not protective layer.

Q2. Which meristem is responsible for increase in length of root and shoot?

A) Lateral meristem
B) Apical meristem
C) Intercalary meristem
D) Secondary meristem
Answer: B
Explanation:

A) Lateral meristem (cambium) gives secondary growth (thickness).
B) Correct — apical meristem causes primary (length) growth.
C) Intercalary meristem (at nodes) contributes to length in some monocots.
D) Secondary meristem = lateral meristem; not length.

Q3. Which cell type is alive at maturity and primarily for photosynthesis?

A) Sclerenchyma fibre
B) Collenchyma
C) Tracheid
D) Vessel element
Answer: B
Explanation:

A) Sclerenchyma is dead at maturity, provides support.
B) Correct — collenchyma is living, flexible support and often photosynthetic when chloroplasts present.
C/D) Tracheids/vessels are dead at maturity and conduct water.

Q4. Sclerenchyma differs from parenchyma in that sclerenchyma:

A) Has thin primary walls only
B) Has thick lignified secondary walls and is dead at maturity
C) Performs photosynthesis only
D) Is found only in roots
Answer: B
Explanation:

A) Parenchyma have thin primary walls.
B) Correct — sclerenchyma has thick lignified walls, usually dead.
C) Parenchyma (chlorenchyma) photosynthesizes, not sclerenchyma.
D) Sclerenchyma found in various organs.

Q5. Casparian strips are found in:

A) Epidermis of leaves
B) Endodermis of roots
C) Pericycle of roots
D) Cortex of stem
Answer: B
Explanation:

A) Epidermis lacks Casparian strips.
B) Correct — endodermal radial walls have suberin bands (Casparian strips) regulating apoplastic flow.
C) Pericycle is inner to endodermis; lacks Casparian strips.
D) Cortex of stem doesn’t have them.

Q6. Which of the following is NOT a function of endodermis?

A) Regulation of water/mineral uptake
B) Formation of lateral roots (pericycle does that)
C) Blocking apoplastic flow by Casparian strips
D) Acting as boundary between cortex and stele
Answer: B
Explanation:

A/C/D) True functions.
B) False — lateral roots arise from pericycle, not endodermis.

Q7. Pericycle in roots is important because it:

A) Produces epidermis
B) Gives rise to lateral roots and contributes to vascular cambium in some plants
C) Photosynthesizes
D) Stores starch exclusively
Answer: B
Explanation:

A) Epidermis is external; pericycle internal.
B) Correct — pericycle is origin of lateral roots and part of cambial activity.
C/D) Pericycle not specialized for photosynthesis; may store some substances but not exclusively.

Q8. Which cells form the phloem sieve tubes?

A) Sieve tube elements and companion cells (sugar transport)
B) Vessel elements and tracheids
C) Parenchyma only
D) Sclereids only
Answer: A
Explanation:

A) Correct — sieve tube elements + companion cells constitute phloem conducting units in angiosperms.
B) Xylem elements.
C/D) Parenchyma/sclereids are not sieve tubes.

Q9. Companion cells are derived from which cell?

A) Procambium (during differentiation into phloem)
B) Cortex cells
C) Epidermal cells
D) Xylem parenchyma
Answer: A
Explanation:

A) Correct — both sieve elements and companion cells derive from procambium.
B/C/D) Not their origin.

Q10. Which is true about xylem vessels?

A) Made of living cells with protoplast
B) Dead at maturity and efficient in axial water conduction
C) Conduct sugars actively
D) Have companion cells attached
Answer: B
Explanation:

A) False — vessels are dead at maturity.
B) Correct — vessel elements align to form continuous conduits for water.
C/D) Phloem conducts sugars and has companion cells.

Q11. Pith in stems is primarily composed of:

A) Sclerenchyma
B) Parenchyma
C) Xylem vessels
D) Epidermis
Answer: B
Explanation:

A) Sclerenchyma is supportive tissue, not pith main component.
B) Correct — pith is central parenchymatous tissue used for storage.
C/D) Incorrect.

Q12. Which statement about monocot and dicot stem vascular bundles is correct?

A) Dicot stem bundles are scattered; monocot bundles in ring
B) Dicots have ring-arranged vascular bundles; monocots have scattered bundles
C) Both have concentric bundles only
D) Both lack vascular bundles
Answer: B
Explanation:

A) Reverse is false.
B) Correct — dicot stem: ring, allows cambial activity; monocot stem: scattered, usually no secondary growth.
C/D) Incorrect.

Q13. Secondary growth (increase in girth) is due to activity of which meristem?

A) Apical meristem only
B) Lateral meristems (vascular cambium & cork cambium)
C) Intercalary meristem only
D) Root cap
Answer: B
Explanation:

A/C) Apical/intercalary give primary growth.
B) Correct — vascular cambium produces secondary xylem/phloem; cork cambium produces periderm.
D) Root cap protective only.

Q14. Which tissues make up the periderm?

A) Epidermis + hypodermis
B) Cork (phellem), cork cambium (phellogen), phelloderm
C) Xylem only
D) Cortex only
Answer: B
Explanation:

A) Periderm replaces epidermis during secondary growth, not epidermis-based.
B) Correct — periderm comprises phellem, phellogen, phelloderm.
C/D) Wrong.

Q15. Annual rings are produced because:

A) Cambial activity is uniform year-round
B) Seasonal variation in cambial activity creates distinct rings of early and late wood
C) Only leaves show seasonal changes
D) Roots and stems never show rings
Answer: B
Explanation:

A) Opposite.
B) Correct — early wood (larger vessels) and late wood (smaller, denser cells) produce rings.
C/D) Not relevant.

Q16. Lenticels are formed in which structure?

A) Leaf epidermis for stomatal exchange
B) Periderm (bark) to facilitate gas exchange in stems/roots with periderm
C) Xylem for water uptake
D) Phloem for sugar transport
Answer: B
Explanation:

A) Lenticels are in periderm, not leaf epidermis (stomata serve leaves).
B) Correct — lenticels are cork ruptures for gas exchange.
C/D) Not their function.

Q17. Which tissue commonly forms the secretory canals/resin ducts in plants like Pinus?

A) Parenchyma-derived schizogenous/lysigenous canals lined by epithelial cells
B) Xylem vessels only
C) Sieve tube elements
D) Epidermis only
Answer: A
Explanation:

A) Correct — secretory ducts are formed by separation of cells (schizogeny) or breakdown (lysogeny) and lined with epithelium.
B/C/D) Not accurate.

Q18. Mesophyll in leaves is primarily composed of:

A) Epidermal cells
B) Parenchyma (palisade + spongy) for photosynthesis and gas exchange
C) Sclerenchyma fibres only
D) Vascular cambium
Answer: B
Explanation:

A/C/D) Incorrect.
B) Correct — palisade and spongy parenchyma form mesophyll.

Q19. Hypodermis in stems/leaves is often:

A) Part of vascular tissue
B) Mechanical support layer; may be collenchymatous or sclerenchymatous
C) Dead at germination only
D) Contain stomata for gas exchange
Answer: B
Explanation:

A/C/D) Wrong.
B) Correct — hypodermis under epidermis provides strength.

Q20. Which characteristic is typical of dicot root vascular arrangement?

A) Vascular bundles scattered
B) Xylem in X-shape, phloem between arms — radial arrangement (exarch)
C) Concentric collateral bundles
D) No xylem present
Answer: B
Explanation:

A) Scattered occurs in monocot stems.
B) Correct — dicot roots show xylem central x-shaped or star-shaped; phloem between arms.
C/D) Incorrect.

Q21. Which is true about monocot roots compared to dicot roots?

A) Monocot roots often have a polyarch xylem and large pith, but overall root structure similar; dicots have few xylem poles (e.g., tetrarch, diarch) — tricky!
B) Monocots lack endodermis
C) Dicots have scattered vascular bundles in root
D) Monocots have secondary growth via vascular cambium like dicots
Answer: A
Explanation:

A) Correct nuance — monocot roots often polyarch; both have endodermis.
B/C/D) False.

Q22. Which of the following is a function of pericycle in dicot root?

A) Primary photosynthesis
B) Origin of lateral roots and contributing to cambium formation during secondary growth
C) Transport of water only
D) Forms stomata
Answer: B
Explanation:

A/C/D) Incorrect.
B) Correct.

Q23. Which cell wall component confers rigidity and hydrophobicity?

A) Cellulose only
B) Lignin (in secondary walls) — makes walls rigid and water-impermeable
C) Pectin only
D) Proteins only
Answer: B
Explanation:

A) Important structural polysaccharide but not hydrophobic.
B) Correct — lignin heavily impregnates secondary walls.
C/D) Not main rigidity/hydrophobic agents.

Q24. Primary xylem and primary phloem develop from:

A) Epidermis
B) Procambium (primary meristem)
C) Endodermis
D) Cork cambium
Answer: B
Explanation:

A/C/D) Incorrect.
B) Correct — procambium forms primary vascular tissues.

Q25. Which tissue shows intercellular spaces prominently for aeration (aerenchyma)?

A) Sclerenchyma only
B) Parenchyma with large intercellular spaces especially in aquatic plants and pith/cortex
C) Sieve tube elements
D) Xylem fibres
Answer: B
Explanation:

A/C/D) Not primary aerenchyma producers.
B) Correct — aerenchyma facilitates gas diffusion in aquatic environments.

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Part 1 — Fundamentals: Tissue Systems, Meristems & Cell Types (Questions 1–25)