Plant Kingdom – NDA Biology PYQs

NDA 2023-I

Q. 1. Which one of the following statements about bryophytes is not correct?

(a) The plant body is a gametophyte.

(b) They are also called the amphibians of plant kingdom.

(c) The plant body is attached to the substratum by rhizoids.

(d) Specialized water-conducting tissues are present.

Answer: (d) Specialized water-conducting tissues are present.

Explanation: Bryophytes are the simplest land plants and include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. The dominant plant body in bryophytes is the gametophyte (haploid). They are called ‘amphibians of the plant kingdom’ because they need water for sexual reproduction (like amphibians). They are attached to the substrate by rhizoids (root-like structures). The incorrect statement is (d): bryophytes do NOT have specialised water-conducting (vascular) tissues such as xylem and phloem. The absence of vascular tissue is a defining characteristic of bryophytes. Concept Tested: Bryophytes lack vascular tissue (xylem and phloem): absence of specialized conducting tissue is their defining feature

★ JOVIK Exam Insight Bryophytes vs. Pteridophytes: Bryophytes = no vascular tissue, dominant gametophyte. Pteridophytes = have vascular tissue (first vascular plants), dominant sporophyte. This distinction is tested repeatedly. ‘Amphibians of plant kingdom’ = bryophytes. ‘Amphibians of the animal kingdom’ = frogs.

NDA 2022-I

Q. 2. Which one of the following groups is called ‘amphibians of plant kingdom’?

(a) Bryophytes

(b) Thallophytes

(c) Pteridophytes

(d) Gymnosperms

Answer: (a) Bryophytes

Explanation: Bryophytes are called the ‘amphibians of the plant kingdom’ because they can live on land but require water for fertilisation. Like amphibians (which live on land but breed in water), bryophytes are adapted to terrestrial life but their flagellate sperm must swim through water to reach the egg. This makes them dependent on moist environments for reproduction. Concept Tested: ‘Amphibians of the plant kingdom’ = bryophytes, because they need water for reproduction despite being land plants

NDA 2021-II

Q. 3. How are evergreen plants with woody stems having naked seed classified?

(a) Angiosperms

(b) Monocotyledons

(c) Pteridophytes

(d) Gymnosperms

Answer: (d) Gymnosperms

Explanation: Gymnosperms are seed-bearing plants whose seeds are naked: not enclosed in a fruit (ovary). The name comes from Greek: ‘gymnos’ (naked) + ‘sperma’ (seed). They typically have woody stems, are often evergreen, and produce cones. Examples include pine, fir, spruce, cycas, and Ginkgo. Angiosperms have seeds enclosed within a fruit (enclosed ovary). Pteridophytes do not produce seeds. Monocotyledons are a subgroup of angiosperms. Concept Tested: Gymnosperms: evergreen, woody-stemmed plants with naked seeds (not enclosed in a fruit)

NDA 2019-II

Q. 4. Who among the following popularized the use of embryological characters in taxonomy?

(a) Carl Linnaeus

(b) Panchanan Maheshwari

(c) Birbal Sahni

(d) Bentham and Hooker

Answer: (b) Panchanan Maheshwari

Explanation: Panchanan Maheshwari was an eminent Indian botanist who specialised in plant embryology. He popularised the use of embryological characters (features of plant embryos and their development) as important criteria in plant taxonomy and classification. He also worked on test-tube fertilisation in plants. Carl Linnaeus developed the binomial nomenclature system. Birbal Sahni was a palaeobotanist. Bentham and Hooker developed a classification system for flowering plants. Concept Tested: Panchanan Maheshwari popularised the use of embryological characters in plant taxonomy

NDA 2019-I

Q. 5. Which one of the following organisms has vascular tissues?

(a) Cladophora

(b) Penicillium

(c) Marsilea

(d) Anabaena

Answer: (c) Marsilea

Explanation: Marsilea is a water fern: a pteridophyte. Pteridophytes were the first plants to develop true vascular tissue (xylem and phloem). Cladophora is a green alga (no vascular tissue). Penicillium is a fungus (no vascular tissue). Anabaena is a cyanobacterium (prokaryote with no vascular tissue). Only Marsilea, as a pteridophyte, possesses vascular tissue. Concept Tested: Marsilea (fern/pteridophyte) has vascular tissue; algae, fungi, and cyanobacteria do not

NDA 2018-I

Q. 6. Which one of the following statements about classification of plants is correct?

(a) Thallophytes have well differentiated body design

(b) Funaria is a fungus

(c) All Pteridophytes are Phanerogams

(d) Vascular system is not found among Bryophytes

Answer: (d) Vascular system is not found among Bryophytes

Explanation: Option (d) is correct: bryophytes do not have a vascular system (no xylem or phloem). Option (a) is wrong: thallophytes (algae and fungi) have a thallus body that is NOT well-differentiated: there is no distinction between root, stem, and leaf. Option (b) is wrong: Funaria is a moss (a bryophyte), not a fungus. Option (c) is wrong: pteridophytes are cryptogams (reproduce by spores), not phanerogams (which are seed-bearing plants: gymnosperms and angiosperms). Concept Tested: Bryophytes lack vascular system; thallophytes have undifferentiated body; Funaria is a moss (bryophyte); pteridophytes are cryptogams

NDA 2015-II

Q. 7. Which one of the following is useful in paper manufacturing industry?

(a) Fibrous plants

(b) Orchids

(c) Non-flowering plants

(d) Plants growing in high altitude

Answer: (a) Fibrous plants

Explanation: Paper manufacturing primarily uses fibrous plant material: mainly cellulose fibres from wood (trees like pine, eucalyptus, and bamboo). The cellulose fibres in plant cell walls are processed to produce paper pulp. Orchids are ornamental and have no role in paper production. Non-flowering plants and high-altitude plants are not specific to paper manufacturing. The defining property is the fibrous (cellulose-rich) nature of the raw material. Concept Tested: Fibrous plants (cellulose-rich material from wood, bamboo, hemp) are used in paper manufacturing

NDA 2013-II

Q. 8. From which part of turmeric, is the turmeric powder obtained?

(a) Dried rhizome

(b) Dried root

(c) Dried fruit

(d) Seed

Answer: (a) Dried rhizome

Explanation: Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a flowering plant of the ginger family. The yellow spice turmeric is obtained from the dried and ground underground rhizomes (modified underground stems) of the plant, not from the roots, fruit, or seeds. The rhizomes are harvested, boiled, dried, and then ground into the familiar yellow powder. The active compound curcumin is found in the rhizome. Concept Tested: Turmeric powder is obtained from the dried rhizome of Curcuma longa

NDA 2010-I

Q. 9. Which one among the following produces seeds but not flowers?

(a) Cashew nut

(b) Coffee

(c) Groundnut

(d) Pine

Answer: (d) Pine

Explanation: Pine is a gymnosperm: it produces seeds (in cones) but does not produce flowers or fruits. The seeds are naked (not enclosed in an ovary/fruit). Cashew nut, coffee, and groundnut are all angiosperms: they produce both flowers and seeds enclosed within fruits. The distinction is that gymnosperms (like pine, fir, cycas) produce seeds but lack flowers. Concept Tested: Pine is a gymnosperm: produces seeds in cones but no flowers; angiosperms (cashew, coffee, groundnut) produce both flowers and seeds

★ JOVIK Exam Insight NDA tests gymnosperm vs. angiosperm distinction. Gymnosperms: seeds but no flowers, no fruit, seeds are naked. Angiosperms: flowers, fruit, enclosed seeds. Examples of gymnosperms: pine, fir, cycas, Ginkgo, cedar, spruce.

NDA 2009-II

Q. 10. Which of the following plants is referred to as a living fossil?

(a) Ephedra

(b) Cycas

(c) Gingko

(d) Adiantum

Answer: (c) Gingko

Explanation: Ginkgo biloba is the most famous plant living fossil. It is the sole surviving species of the division Ginkgophyta, which was diverse during the Mesozoic era. Ginkgo has remained essentially unchanged for over 200 million years. It is a gymnosperm with distinctive fan-shaped leaves and is dioecious (separate male and female trees). Ephedra and Cycas are also gymnosperms but are not typically called ‘living fossils’ in the NDA context. Adiantum is a fern (pteridophyte). Concept Tested: Ginkgo biloba = ‘living fossil’: a gymnosperm unchanged for 200+ million years; the sole survivor of its ancient group

Q. 11. Which one of the following vegetables is not obtained from wild cabbage?

(a) Lettuce

(b) Broccoli

(c) Kale

(d) Kohlrabi

Answer: (a) Lettuce

Explanation: Broccoli, kale, kohlrabi, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage are all cultivated varieties (cultivars) of the same wild plant: Brassica oleracea. Over centuries, humans selectively bred different parts of this one wild species to create different vegetables. Lettuce is a completely different plant: Lactuca sativa, belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae). It is not related to or derived from wild cabbage. Concept Tested: Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is not derived from wild cabbage (Brassica oleracea); broccoli, kale, and kohlrabi are all Brassica oleracea cultivars

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