14. The stomata are responsible for

a. translocation
b. leaf growth
c. regulating water loss
d. the transport of minerals
D?

2. In a moist area of the woods, you see a mass of small, green plants with tall, thin, non-green projections coming from their centers. These plants are probably
a. seed-bearing
b. nonvascular
c. drought-resistant spores
d. both a and b

3. Which structure is NOT present in most vascular plants?
a. seeds
b. gametophyte
c. conductive tissue
d. rhizoids
B?

Thanks
-MC

14. The answer is c. regulating water loss.

To determine this, we need to understand the roles of the stomata. Stomata are small openings found on the surface of leaves and stems. They are surrounded by two specialized guard cells that control their opening and closing. Stomata play a crucial role in regulating the exchange of gases and water vapor between the plant and its environment. When the stomata are open, gases like CO2 (which is needed for photosynthesis) can enter the plant, while oxygen and water vapor can exit. However, open stomata also result in water loss through evaporation. Therefore, the stomata can regulate the amount of water that the plant loses, helping to prevent excessive water loss and dehydration.

2. The answer is d. both a and b.

To arrive at this answer, let's analyze the description given. We are in a moist area of the woods, and we see small, green plants with tall, thin, non-green projections coming from their centers.

- Seed-bearing plants reproduce by producing seeds, which contain the embryo and are enclosed in a protective coat. There is no mention of seeds in the description, so option a can be eliminated.

- Nonvascular plants, also known as bryophytes, lack specialized vascular tissues for conducting water and nutrients. Based on the description, there is no clear indication of whether these plants have vascular tissue or not, so option b could still be a possibility.

- Drought-resistant spores are reproductive structures that enable plants to reproduce under unfavorable conditions, such as during a drought. However, there is no mention of spores in the description, so option c can be eliminated.

After eliminating options a and c, we are left with option d, which suggests that these plants are both seed-bearing and nonvascular. In the absence of clear indications about seeds or vascular tissues, this is the most plausible answer.

3. The answer is b. gametophyte.

To determine this, we need to understand the basic life cycle of vascular plants. Vascular plants have a life cycle characterized by alternation between two generations: the sporophyte and the gametophyte.

- Sporophyte: The sporophyte generation of a vascular plant is the dominant, visible plant that we commonly recognize. It produces spores through meiosis, which eventually develop into the gametophyte generation.

- Gametophyte: The gametophyte generation is usually inconspicuous and smaller than the sporophyte. It produces gametes (sperm and eggs) through mitosis, which then fuse to form a zygote, leading to the development of a new sporophyte.

With this understanding in mind, we can identify that option b, gametophyte, is not present in most vascular plants. Instead, it is the sporophyte that is dominant and prominent in the life cycle of vascular plants.

Therefore, the correct answer is b. gametophyte.