Answer the following statement(s) true (T) or false (F)

Question

1.  A soil sample with a OH- concentration of  10-9 M may also have high levels of aluminum.  

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?

Gather Content
· What do you already know about the relationship between [OH-] and aluminum in the soil? How does it relate to the question?

Consider Possibilities
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

2.  As global temperatures increase, evidence suggests that ribulose 1, 5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rubisco) is likely to denature and photosynthesis rates will decrease.  

3.  Saline soils have a higher water potential than plant roots.    
Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?

Gather Content
· What do you already know about how water potential is affected by saline soil? How does it relate to the question?

Consider Possibilities
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

4.  Most parasitic plants like other land plants have mycorrhizal symbionts.  
Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?

Gather Content
· What do you already know about how parasitic plants obtain nutrients? How does it relate to the question?

Consider Possibilities
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

5.  A nematode that has parasitized a plant has breached the cutin layer of the epidermis.  Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?

Gather Content
· What do you already know about how nematodes infect plants? How does it relate to the question?

Consider Possibilities
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

Answer 1

1. TRUE
Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o This question is asking about the relationship between [OH-] and aluminum content of the soil.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o You are being asked to take what you already know and apply it to a specific soil condition.
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?
        o OH+ concentration, which can be used to calculate the pH of a substance.
        o Aluminum, which is a metallic element that can be toxic to many plants.
        o 1 x 10-9, which as a [OH+] can be converted into a pH value.

Gather Content
· What do you already know about the relationship between [OH-] and aluminum in the soil? How does it relate to the question?
        o Aluminum leaches into the soil from rocks if the soil is acidic.
        o pH =-log [H+]
        o [H+] + [OH-] = 1 x 10-14
        o Since we know that OH-= 1 x 10-9 in this soil , [H+] must equal 1 x 10-5
        o pH of this soil = -log (1 x 10-5), which equals –-5, which equals 5
        o pH 5means that this soil is acidic

Consider Possibilities
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?
        o Aluminum leaches into soil in acidic conditions.

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
       o Once you recognize that you can calculate pH from [H+], you can conclude that this soil is acidic. Aluminum enters the soil when the soil is acidic. Since the soil is acidic, it would have high levels of aluminum.

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
· Apply level:
       o This question asked you to assess the likelihood of finding high aluminum concentration in a soil sample. Answering this question correctly depended on your ability to use the relationship between soil acidity and aluminum content in a new situation. If you got the correct answer, great job! If you got an incorrect answer, where did the process break down? Did you remember that aluminum content is higher in acidic soil, or pH can be calculated using [H+]? Did you have trouble extending the pH of the soil to determine the correct answer?

2. FALSE
Evidence suggest that enzymes like rusbico will experience an increase in activity for awhile and then acclimate to the temperature change. 

3. FALSE
Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o This question is asking about how water potential is affected by saline soil.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o You are being asked to take what you already know and apply it to the water potential of a new soil type.
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?
        o Saline, which refers to something that contains salt.
        o Water potential, which is the relative proportion of water.

Gather Content
· What do you already know about how water potential is affected by saline soil? How does it relate to the question?
        o As solute concentration increases, water potential decreases.
        o Water flows from areas of higher water potential to areas of lower water potential.
        o If roots have lower water potential than the soil, water flows into the roots.

Consider Possibilities
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?
        o Saline is a solute. Increased saline (solute) in the soil would not raise the water potential.

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
       o In saline soil, the saline is a solute. This increased solute level would lower the water potential of the soil.

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
· Apply level:
       o This question asked you to relate salinity to water potential. Answering this question correctly depended on your ability to use the indirect relationship between solute concentration and water potential in a new situation. If you got the correct answer, great job! If you got an incorrect answer, where did the process break down? Did you remember that saline is solute, or that increased solute lowers water potential? Did you have trouble extending concept the relationship between solute concentration and water potential to determine the correct answer?

4. FALSE
Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o This question is asking about the way parasitic plants obtain nutrients.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o You are being asked to take what you already know and apply it to the parasitic life style of some plants.
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?
        o Parasitic, which is the relationship by which one organism draws it nutrients from another.
        o Mycorrhizae, which are fungi that aid plants the uptake of phosphorus.
        o Symbionts, which are organisms that coexist.

Gather Content
· What do you already know about how parasitic plants obtain nutrients? How does it relate to the question?
        o Parasitic plants do not undergo photosynthesis.
        o Many parasitic plants lack roots and leaves.
        o Parasitic plants obtain their nutrients from other organisms.
        o Mycorrhizal fungi aid 90% of vascular plants with phosphorus and nutrient uptake.

Consider Possibilities
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?
        o Mycorrhizae would not benefit parasitic plants, as nutrients are obtained from host species.

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
       o Since parasitic plants do not depend on nutrient uptake through the soil, an association with mycorrhizae would not be beneficial.

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
· Apply level:
       o This question asked you to understand nutrient uptake in parasitic plants. Answering this question correctly depended on your ability to recognize the role of mycorrhizal fungi in a new situation. If you got the correct answer, great job! If you got an incorrect answer, where did the process break down? Did you remember that parasites do not undergo photosynthesis, and that do not take up nutrients from the soil? Did you have trouble extending concept the relationship between parasitism and nutrient uptake to determine the correct answer? Blocking the proton pumps in a root would result in a more negative membrane potential and an increase in K+ uptake.  

5. FALSE
Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o This question is asking about the nature of a nematode infection in terms of plant tissue.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o You are being asked to take what you already know and apply-it to effects of a parasitic infection to a plant.
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?
        o Nematode, which refers to a large group of animals that include roundworms.
        o Cutin, which is a waxy compound that is found in plant tissues.
        o Epidermis, which is the outer tissue of a plant.

Gather Content
· What do you already know about how nematodes infect plants? How does it relate to the question?
        o Suberin covers the epidermis of the root.
        o Nematode parasites attack the roots of a plant.

Consider Possibilities
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?
        o Cutin is found in plant tissues that occur above ground level.

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o Since nematodes attack plant roots, and cutin is not associated with plant root structure, cutin would not be breached with a nematode attack.

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
· Apply level:
        o This question asked you to assess the effects of a nematode invasion on plant tissue.  Answering this question correctly depended on your ability to use your knowledge of plant tissues in a new situation.  If you got the correct answer, great job! If you got an incorrect answer, where did the process break down? Did you remember that cutin is associated with structures that grow above ground level, or that nematodes attack the roots of plants? Did you have trouble extending your knowledge of plant tissues to determine the correct answer?