Protists Characteristics Quiz

Protists are a diverse group of organisms. If a scientist wanted to quickly define what makes protists unique, which of the following would be the most accurate description?

• They are prokaryotes that lack a nucleus, just like bacteria.

• They are eukaryotes that do not belong to the plant, animal, or fungi kingdoms.

• They are always multicellular and live only on land.

• They are viruses that infect living organisms.

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You are examining a drop of pond water under the microscope and notice a green, single-celled organism that appears to be moving but is also filled with chloroplasts. Which best describes this organism?

• A plant-like protist capable of photosynthesis

• A bacteria because of its simple structure

• A fungi-like protist that decomposes matter

• An animal-like protist that consumes food particles

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Which of the following examples belong to the group of plant-like protists?

• Amoeba, Paramecium, Plasmodium

• Euglena, Volvox, Diatoms

• Water molds, Slime molds, Rusts

• Flagella, Cilia, Pseudopodia

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If all plant-like protists were removed from the ocean, what would be the most immediate impact on aquatic ecosystems?

• Fish would have an increase in food supply.

• Oxygen levels and primary production would drop dramatically.

• Decomposition rates would increase.

• Populations of fungi-like protists would double.

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A scientist notices a colony of small, spherical, green protists that move together as one unit. These organisms are most likely:

• Amoeba

• Volvox

• Plasmodium

• Water molds

Animal-like protists are often grouped together under what common name?

• Algae

• Protozoans

• Slime molds

• Dinoflagellates

Which characteristic do all animal-like protists share, regardless of how they move?

• They make their own food using chlorophyll.

• They absorb nutrients from decaying matter.

• They are heterotrophic and must ingest food like animals.

• They form hyphae like fungi.

When an amoeba surrounds its food by extending its body outward, this movement is carried out using which structure?

• Cilia

• Pseudopodia

• Flagella

• Spores

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Paramecia are covered in tiny hair-like projections that allow them to move quickly through water and sweep food into their oral groove. These projections are called:

• Pseudopodia

• Vacuoles

• Cilia

• Chloroplasts

Trypanosoma is a flagellated protist. What does this mean about its movement?

• It moves by stretching its cell membrane outward.

• It glides passively with water currents.

• It uses a whip-like structure to propel itself.

• It cannot move at all and stays attached to surfaces.