Matthew noticed that his house plants were wilting badly. Which cell structure had most likely contracted?

Question

A.  cytoplasm
B.  cell wall
C.  plasma membrane
D.  vacuole

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
what is happening inside of the cell in a wilted plant.
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?

Gather Content
· What do you know about the structure of a plant cell? 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

D.  vacuole

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o The question asks about the structure of a plant cell.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o You are being asked to apply your knowledge of the structure of a plant cell to explain what is happening inside of the cell in a wilted plant.
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?
        o Wilting – this is when a plant becomes limp and droopy.
        o Contracted – this means to squeeze down to a smaller size.

Gather Content
· What do you know about the structure of a plant cell? How does it relate to the question?
        o Plant cells contain a plasma membrane and a cell wall.  The cell wall helps maintain structural support.  However, if a plant lacks enough water the leaves of the plant will wilt and become droopy.  Once the plant is watered it will swell back up and stand up straight again.

Consider Possibilities
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?
        o The plasma membrane and cell wall are structural elements of a plant cell, but they do not contract or swell when a plant becomes wilted.
        o The cytoplasm does contain water, but it is not the primary water storage organelle in a plant.

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o The primary water storage organelle in a plant is the vacuole.  When a plant becomes wilted, the vacuole contracts or squeezes in.  This pushes water out of the plant cell causing it to lose volume.  When enough plant cells lose volume the plant itself starts to droop or wilt.  When you water the plant, the cells take up the water in their vacuoles, causing the cells to swell up again.  Once enough cells swell up the plant will regain its normal shape.

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?
        o This question asked you to apply your understanding of the structure of a plant to explain what happens inside a cell when a plant wilts. If you got the correct answer, great job! If you got an incorrect answer, where did the process break down? Did you understand that when a plant is wilted it is not getting enough water?  Did you recall that the vacuole is responsible for storing water in a plant cell?  Did you understand that when a vacuole contracts it pushes water out of the cell, causing the plant to become droopy and wilt?