Water is vital for the survival of living things. Plants absorb water from the soil. (i) Through which microscopic structures does water enter a plant from the soil? (ii) By what process does water enter a plant? (iii) Name the tissue that water travels through in a plant. (iv) Draw a labelled diagram of one cell of the tissue referred to in (iii) above. (v) Name one process that causes water to move upwards in a plant. (vi) Consider that night has fallen and the plant is in darkness. Suggest what will happen to the amount of water moving through the plant and give a reason for your answer. (vii) State two ways by which plants have adapted to protect themselves.

Leaving Cert Biology Plant Structure: Water is vital for the survival

Water is vital for the survival of living things - Leaving Cert Biology - Question a - 2010

Question a

Water is vital for the survival of living things. Plants absorb water from the soil. (i) Through which microscopic structures does water enter a plant from the soil... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Water is vital for the survival of living things - Leaving Cert Biology - Question a - 2010

Step 1

Through which microscopic structures does water enter a plant from the soil?

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Answer

Water enters a plant through microscopic structures known as root hairs. These are extensions of the root epidermal cells that increase the surface area for water absorption.

Step 2

By what process does water enter a plant?

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Answer

Water enters a plant through the process of osmosis. This process involves the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration in the soil to an area of higher solute concentration in the root cells.

Step 3

Name the tissue that water travels through in a plant.

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Answer

The tissue that water travels through in a plant is called xylem.

Step 4

Draw a labelled diagram of one cell of the tissue referred to in (iii) above.

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Answer

Here is a basic structure of a xylem cell:

          +---------------------+
          |                     |
          |       Vessel        |
          |        Element      |
          |                     |
          +---------------------+
              |      |        |
              |      |        |
              |      |        |
          +---------------------+
          |     Tracheid       |
          +---------------------+

Labels:

Vessel Element
Tracheid

Step 5

Name one process that causes water to move upwards in a plant.

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Answer

One process that causes water to move upwards in a plant is root pressure. Other processes include cohesion and transpiration.

Step 6

Consider that night has fallen and the plant is in darkness. Suggest what will happen to the amount of water moving through the plant and give a reason for your answer.

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Answer

The amount of water moving through the plant will decrease. This is because photosynthesis, which primarily occurs during the day, stops at night, leading to closed stomata and a reduction in transpiration.

Step 7

State two ways by which plants have adapted to protect themselves.

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Answer

Thorns: Many plants have developed thorns to deter herbivores from feeding on them.
Chemical Defenses: Some plants produce toxins or bad-tasting compounds to protect themselves from being eaten.

Water is vital for the survival of living things - Leaving Cert Biology - Question a - 2010

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Water is vital for the survival of living things - Leaving Cert Biology - Question a - 2010

Through which microscopic structures does water enter a plant from the soil?

By what process does water enter a plant?

Name the tissue that water travels through in a plant.

Draw a labelled diagram of one cell of the tissue referred to in (iii) above.

Name one process that causes water to move upwards in a plant.

Consider that night has fallen and the plant is in darkness. Suggest what will happen to the amount of water moving through the plant and give a reason for your answer.

State two ways by which plants have adapted to protect themselves.

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