In an experiment, some herbaceous, nonwoody plants were exposed to frequent windy conditions or mechanical shaking for several hours per day. The flexibility of these plants was due to the _____________ cells.

Question

A.  parenchyma
B.  aerenchyma
C.  periderm
D.  collenchyma
E.  sclerenchyma

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 composition and function of various plant cells types? 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.  collenchyma

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o Different types of plant cell types have different functions within a plant.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o You must apply what you know about the functions of individual cell types to recognize an unknown cell type in a sample.
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?
        o Nonwoody plant, which refers to a plant that is herbaceous, with a green rather than a wood-based stem.
        o Flexibility, which means there is a great range of movement.

Gather Content
· What do you already know about  the composition and function of various plant cells types? How does it relate to the question?
        o Collenchyma cells provide flexibility to a plant.
        o Collenchyma cells often form strands.

Consider Possibilities
· What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?
        o Parenchyma may have thin cell walls.
        o Sclerenchyma cells are typically dead at maturity, and are not flexible.

Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o If you connect the ideas that the unknown cells are from the stem of the plant and that they are flexible and strong, you can only conclude this is collenchyma.  Collenchyma is known for its flexible nature.

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 identify a plant tissue. Answering this question correctly depended on your ability to use the known characteristics 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 collenchyma is known for its flexibility, or that other tissues are not nearly as flexible? Did you have trouble the known characteristics of plant tissues to determine the correct answer?