Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

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Structure of Transport Tissues (CIE AS Biology)

Topic Questions

11 mark

The diagram shows transverse sections of two plant structures.

xylem-phloem-distribution

Which labels correctly identify structures 1, 2, 3 and 4?

 
1
2
3
4
A
phloem
xylem
xylem
phloem
B
xylem
phloem
xylem
phloem
C
phloem
xylem
phloem
xylem
D
xylem
phloem
phloem
xylem

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21 mark

The diagram shows a transverse section through part of a plant.

plant-root-cross-section

What is the name of tissue X?

  • Pith

  • Cortex

  • Endodermis

  • Waxy cuticle

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31 mark

Which features apply to both sieve tube elements and xylem vessel elements?

1

no end walls  

2

no nucleus 

3

no cytoplasm

4

dependent on companion cells for certain functions

  • 1, 3 and 4

  • 2, 3 and 4

  • 1, 2 and 3

  • 2 only

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41 mark

Which feature should not be included when drawing a plan diagram of a transverse section of a dicotyledonous plant stem?

  • Epidermis

  • Vascular bundle

  • Companion cell

  • Cortex

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51 mark

The diagram shows a transverse section of a plant stem.

plant-stem-cross-section

Which statements relating to the diagram are correct?

1

X transports water and minerals 

2

Y transports substances in only one direction

3

X and Y together are a vascular bundle 

4

X transports products of photosynthesis

  • 1, 3 and 4

  • 2, 3 and 4

  • 1, 2 and 3

  • 2 and 4

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61 mark

A poison is applied to the stem of a plant, killing living cells.

How will this treatment affect transport in the vascular tissue?

  • Transport occurs in the xylem and the phloem.

  • Transport occurs in the xylem and does not occur in the phloem.

  • Transport occurs in the phloem and does not occur in the xylem.

  • Transport does not occur in either the xylem or the phloem.

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71 mark

Which organelles occur in large numbers in companion cells?

  • Mitochondria

  • Starch grains

  • Chloroplasts

  • Lysosomes

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81 mark

Which features of a root hair cell increase water uptake from the soil?

1

many mitochondria

2

large surface area 

3

thin cell wall

4

low water potential  

  • 1, 3 and 4

  • 2, 3 and 4

  • 1, 2, 3 and 4

  • 2 and 4

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91 mark

Which of the following is not found in mature sieve tube elements?

  • Mitochondria

  • Nucleus

  • Protein

  • Cytoplasm

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101 mark

This is an image of a plant taken with a light microscope 

plant-root-micrograph

Public domain, via Flickr

What is the cell type labelled W?

  • Sieve tube element

  • Cortex

  • Companion cell

  • Xylem vessel element

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11 mark

The diagram shows three transverse plant sections.

plant-tissue-distribution

Which row correctly identifies 1 - 6?

  1 2 3 4 5 6
A
B
C
D
phloem
xylem
xylem
phloem
xylem
phloem
phloem
 xylem
xylem
xylem
phloem
phloem
 phloem
phloem
xylem
xylem
phloem
xylem
phloem
xylem
 xylem
phloem
xylem
phloem

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21 mark

This image shows a transverse section of a plant stem

Which, from A-D, identifies the phloem? 

NQ1wC5ES_vascular-bundle-micrograph

Public domain, via Flickr

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31 mark

The diagram shows the relationship between some of the features of xylem vessel elements, phloem sieve tube elements and companion cells.

screenshot-2023-05-12-083027

Which row is correctly represented by the diagram?

 
1
2
3
4
5
A
xylem vessel elements
lignified tissue
companion cells
mitochondria
sieve tube elements
B
companion cells
lignified tissue
xylem vessel elements
hollow structure
sieve tube elements
C
sieve tube elements
cytoplasm 
companion cells
nucleus 
xylem vessel elements
D
companion cells
endoplasmic reticulum
sieve tube elements 
nucleus absent 
xylem vessel elements

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41 mark

The diagram shows a transverse plant section.

plant-root-cross-section

Which row correctly identifies the functions of X, Y and Z?

  X Y Z
A storage of carbohydrates regulates movement of water into and out of the vascular system provides a physical barrier to pathogens
B storage of carbohydrates provides structural support for the plant has a waxy cuticle to prevent water loss
C allows movement of water from root hairs to vascular system regulates movement of water into and out of the vascular system has a waxy cuticle to prevent water loss
D allows movement of water from root hairs to vascular system provides structural support for the plant provides a physical barrier to pathogens

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51 mark

Which labels could be correctly added to a plan diagram of a transverse section of a dicotyledonous leaf?

1

palisade mesophyll  

2

upper epidermis 

3

spongy mesophyll

4

xylem vessel elements 

5

phloem

  • 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

  • 1, 2, 3 and 4

  • 1, 4 and 5

  • 1, 2, 3 and 5

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61 mark

Which row correctly identifies the structures present in xylem vessel elements, sieve tube elements and companion cells?

 
xylem vessel element
sieve tube element
companion cell
cytoplasm
nucleus
cytoplasm
nucleus
cytoplasm
nucleus
A
X
X
X
B
X
X
C
X
X
X
D
X
X

Key:    = present        X= absent

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71 mark

Which of the following statements correctly describes companion cells in mature phloem tissue?

  • Companion cells provide structural support for the sieve tube element.

  • Companion cells are a source of sugars for the sieve tube element.

  • There is cytoplasmic contact between companion cells and the sieve tube element.

  • The volume of cytoplasm in companion cells is reduced.

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81 mark

Which of the following is not a function of plasmodesmata in plant cells?

  • Allow movement of water via the symplastic pathway.

  • Enable cell recognition.

  • Allow communication between cells.

  • Allow the movement of nutrients between cells.

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91 mark

Which of the following statements about plant transport tissues are correct?

1
Xylem vessel walls are strengthened by longitudinal strips of lignin
2
Sieve plates contain pores
3
Phloem tissue is located on the lower side of leaf vascular bundles
4
Root vascular bundles are surrounded by the endodermis
5
Pits in xylem allow the movement of cytoplasm between cells

  • 1, 2, 3 and 4

  • 1, 2 and 4

  • 2, 3 and 4

  • 2, 3, 4 and 5

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11 mark

The diagram shows a transverse section of a plant structure.

plant-root-cross-section-1

Which row correctly identifies the structures labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4?

 
1
2
3
4
A
cuticle
xylem
phloem
pith
B
cuticle
phloem
xylem
pith
C
epidermis
xylem
phloem
cortex
D
epidermis
phloem
xylem
cortex

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21 mark

The diagrams show cross sections of the stem, root and leaf of a non-woody dicotyledonous plant.

plant-tissue-distribution

Which sequence of numbers correctly identifies the distribution of xylem and phloem in the stem, root and leaf?

 
xylem
phloem
A
1     3     5
2     4     6
B
2     3     5
1     4     6
C
1     4     6
2     3     5
D
2     4     6
1     3     5 

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31 mark

Which features of these cells make them suitable for their function?

 
xylem vessel elements
companion cells
A
lignified walls
numerous mitochondria
B
nuclei present
cellulose wall
C
no living tissue present
absence of cytoplasm
D
numerous mitochondria
lignified walls

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41 mark

The photomicrograph shows a cross section of the stem of a plant.

stem-micrograph

Berkshire Community College, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Which row correctly identifies XY and Z

  X Y Z
A xylem vessel element cortex cell companion cell
B xylem vessel element sieve tube element airspace
C sieve tube element epidermal cell pith cell
D sieve tube element xylem vessel element cortex cell

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51 mark

The diagram shows transverse sections of two plant structures.

xylem-phloem-distribution

Which row correctly describe structures 1, 2, 3 and 4?

  1 2 3 4
A transports in two directions transports in one direction transports in one direction transports ions and minerals
B transports sugars transports in one direction transports in two directions transports products of photosynthesis
C transports sugars transports in one direction transports products of photosynthesis transports ions and minerals
D transports water transports in two direction transports in two directions transports products of photosynthesis

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61 mark

Which row correctly identifies the structures present within xylem vessel elements and sieve tube elements?

  xylem vessel element sieve tube element
nucleus cytoplasm  end wall nucleus cytoplasm end wall
A
B
C
D
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

Key:    = present        X = absent

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71 mark

Which of the following correctly describes the features of xylem vessels?

  • Cells are joined end to end, containing peripheral cytoplasm, cell walls with secondary thickening of lignin, and are located to the outside of phloem in vascular bundles.

  • Cells join to form a tube with sieve plates between each cell. Cells are surrounded by the endodermis in roots.

  • Cells are dead and elongated, with lignified cell walls and pits at intervals. Cells are associated with companion cells.

  • Cells are elongated with no end walls, and are located in vascular bundles in the stem and centrally in the roots.

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81 mark

The diagram shows a transverse plant section.

plant-root-cross-section

Which row correctly identifies the structures labelled X, Y and Z?

 
X
Y
Z
A
pith
endodermis
epidermis
B
cortex
endodermis
epidermis
C
pith
cortex
cuticle
D
endodermis
cortex
cuticle

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91 mark

The diagram shows a transverse section of a leaf viewed under a light microscope.

leaf-cross-section-micrograph

Berkshire Community College, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Which row correctly identifies structures W, X, Y and Z?

 
W
X
Y
Z
A
palisade mesophyll cell
air space
spongy mesophyll cell
xylem
B
guard cell
phloem
air space
xylem
C
guard cell
spongy mesophyll cell
cortex
phloem
D
palisade mesophyll cell
air space
spongy mesophyll cell
phloem

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101 mark

What is the function of plasmodesmata in plant cells?

  • Allow symplastic movement of substances between cells.

  • Act as a barrier to minerals and ions.

  • Facilitate cell recognition.

  • Allow active transport of sucrose between cells.

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