Free Kingdom Protista MCQs with Answers

181. Which one of the following organisms has both plant-like and animal-like characters?

• A. Yeast
• B. Trichonympha
• C. Paramecium
• D. Euglena

Explanation: Answer is "Euglena"Explanation: Euglenoids have at various times been classified in the plant kingdom (with algae) and in animal kingdom (in protozoa).

182. Widal test is carried out to check:

• A. Malaria
• B. Diabetes mellitus
• C. HIV/AIDS
• D. Typhoid fever.

Explanation: Widal test (developed by G.F.I Widal) is an agglutination test for the presence of antibodies against the Salmonella organism that causes typhoid fever. It is used to diagnose the presence of the disease in a patient. The Widal test works by detecting antibodies produced by the immune system in response to the Salmonella bacteria. It is not typically used as a first-line diagnostic test but may be employed when enteric fever is strongly suspected or during outbreaks.

183. Tse-tse fly causes the sleeping sickness and skin diseases by transmitting:

• A. Plasmodium
• B. Trypanosoma
• C. Anopheles
• D. Insects

Explanation: Explanation:Tse-tse fly causes the sleeping sickness and skin diseases by transmitting Trypanosoma. Plasmodium is the protozoan parasite that causes malaria, a mosquito-borne disease. It is not transmitted by the tse-tse fly. Anopheles is a genus of mosquito that is known to transmit the Plasmodium parasite that causes malaria. It is not directly involved in the transmission of sleeping sickness. This option is also incorrect because insects can transmit a wide range of diseases, but not sleeping sickness.

184. An alga employed as food for humans is:

• A. Ulothrix
• B. Chlorella
• C. Spirogyra
• D. Polysiphonia

Explanation: Protein-rich alga Chlorella is a "superfood" supplement for humans.

185. The pathogenic protozoan species that belongs to class apicomplexa is

• A. Entamoeba
• B. Paramecium
• C. Plasmodium
• D. Trypanosoma

Explanation: Apicomplexa is a large class of parasitic protozoans, many of which are pathogenic to humans and animals. Members of this class have a complex life cycle and are known for having an apical complex structure that aids in penetrating host cells. Plasmodium species, which cause malaria, are well-known members of the Apicomplexa class. Other options like Entamoeba and Trypanosoma belong to different groups and are not classified under Apicomplexa. Paramecium is a ciliate and does not belong to this class.

186. In contrast to plants and animals, protists do NOT

• A. have cell walls
• B. reproduce asexually
• C. develop from an embryo
• D. possess membrane bounded organelles

Explanation: Protists are a diverse group of eukaryotic microorganisms that are not classified as plants, animals, or fungi. The key feature that distinguishes them from plants and animals is that they do not develop from an embryo, which is a stage in the life cycle of multicellular organisms. While some protists have cell walls and many reproduce asexually, they are unique in their lack of embryonic development. Additionally, being eukaryotic, protists have membrane-bounded organelles, similar to plants and animals.

187. The disease that is caused by a microbe belonging to the class Apicomplexa is

• A. Cholera
• B. Malaria
• C. Dysentery
• D. Sleeping sickness

Explanation: Apicomplexa is a class of protozoan parasites known to cause several diseases in humans and animals. The most notable disease caused by a member of this class is malaria, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The causative agents of malaria are Plasmodium species, which are obligate intracellular parasites belonging to Apicomplexa. In contrast, cholera is caused by a bacterium, dysentery can be bacterial or amoebic, and sleeping sickness is caused by a different class of protozoa. Understanding the classification of microbes helps in identifying the diseases they cause.

188. Photosynthetic protists with shells, composed of two halves, that fit together like a petri dish are:

• A. Diatoms
• B. Actinopods
• C. Foraminiferans
• D. Dinoflagellates

Explanation: The correct answer is diatoms. Diatoms are a group of photosynthetic protists known for their unique silica shells, which are composed of two halves that fit together like a petri dish. This distinguishing feature sets them apart from other protists. Actinopods have shells with a different structure and are not primarily photosynthetic. Foraminiferans possess calcareous shells and are not typically photosynthetic. Dinoflagellates have cellulose plates, not shells that fit together in the manner described in the question.

189. In contrast to paramecium, euglena

• A. Is heterotrophic
• B. Possesses two nuclei
• C. Use flagella for locomotion
• D. Is unicellular and eukaryotic

Explanation: Both Euglena and Paramecium are single-celled, eukaryotic organisms, but they differ in how they move and obtain energy. Euglena is primarily an autotrophic organism because it contains chloroplasts for photosynthesis, although it can also absorb nutrients heterotrophically. It moves using a flagellum, which is a whip-like structure. In contrast, Paramecium is entirely heterotrophic, feeding on microorganisms. It moves using cilia, which are tiny hair-like structures surrounding its body. Paramecium also possesses two types of nuclei, a macronucleus and one or more micronuclei, which euglena does not have. Thus, the correct answer is that Euglena uses flagella for locomotion, unlike Paramecium.

190. The shells of foraminiferans contain pores through which cytoplasmic projections are extended.These cytoplasmic projections help foraminiferans to

• A. Entangle the prey
• B. Enhance water beauty
• C. Form limestone deposits
• D. Exchange genetic material

Explanation: The correct answer is that the cytoplasmic projections help foraminiferans to entangle the prey. These projections, known as pseudopodia, extend through the pores in the shell to capture food, such as other small microorganisms. The option of enhancing water beauty is incorrect because the projections are not for aesthetic purposes. Forming limestone deposits is related to the accumulation of foraminiferan shells but not their cytoplasmic projections. Lastly, exchanging genetic material is not a function of pseudopodia.