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Kingdom Protista MCQs for MDCAT Practice

Biology section, Kingdom Protista chapter. Up to eight free sample questions, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. The full chapter opens in the app.

The bank has 432 active questions on this chapter. Your first 500 practice attempts are free, and every attempt includes a worked explanation.

  1. Question 1
    Which protist genus is a classic example of mixotrophy, possessing both chloroplasts for photosynthesis and the ability to ingest organic material (heterotrophy) when light is unavailable?
    • Amoeba
    • Plasmodium
    • Paramecium
    • Euglena (correct answer)
    Correct answer: D
    Euglena exemplifies mixotrophy, uniquely blending photosynthesis with heterotrophy to adapt to fluctuating light conditions.
  2. Question 2
    Euglenoids resemble
    • Algae
    • Green plants
    • Zooflagellates
    • All these (correct answer)
    Correct answer: D
    Euglenoids exhibit a unique mix of plant-like and animal-like characteristics, making them resemble algae, green plants, and zooflagellates.
  3. Question 3
    Shell of which one of the following is composed of interlocking cellulose plates
    • Dinoflagellates (correct answer)
    • Diatoms
    • Kelps
    • Red algae
    Correct answer: A
    Protists exhibit diverse cell coverings; this question probes the unique cellulose armor of dinoflagellates.
  4. Question 4
    The hypothesis of Ronald Ross relating to malaria was:
    • Plasmodia are the cause of malaria.
    • Bad air is involved in the spread of malaria.
    • Mosquitoes are possible carriers of Plasmodium. (correct answer)
    • Malaria is caused by bad air coming from marshy places.
    Correct answer: C
    Ronald Ross's groundbreaking hypothesis correctly identified mosquitoes as vectors for malaria transmission, challenging prevailing miasma theories.
  5. Question 5
    Protists that form a monophyletic lineage with plants are
    • Fucus and Ulva
    • Ulva and Spirogyra (correct answer)
    • Polysiphonia and Fucus
    • Polysiphonia and Spirogyra
    Correct answer: B
    Ulva and Spirogyra are green algae (charophytes) that share a monophyletic lineage with land plants (embryophytes) due to shared evolutionary ancestry and key traits.
  6. Question 6
    The African sleeping sickness is caused by:
    • Entamoeba histolytica.
    • Zooflagellates.
    • Trypanosoma. (correct answer)
    • Ciliates.
    Correct answer: C
    African sleeping sickness is caused by Trypanosoma, a zooflagellate protozoan. Distinguishing it from other protozoan pathogens like Entamoeba and ciliates is crucial.
  7. Question 7
    African sleeping sickness is caused by which of these human parasites?
    • Choanoflagellates
    • Trypanosoma (correct answer)
    • Trichonymphas
    • Paramecium
    Correct answer: B
    African sleeping sickness, a serious human protozoan disease, is caused by Trypanosoma, a flagellated parasite transmitted by tsetse flies.
  8. Question 8
    A protist that forms seaweeds is:
    • Red algae
    • Brown algae (correct answer)
    • Green algae
    • Diatoms
    Correct answer: B
    Brown algae (Phaeophyceae) are the primary producers of the large, multicellular seaweeds found along coastlines.

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