If a mutation decreased the radius of a xylem vessel threefold, there would be an 81-fold increase in the volume of liquid moving through the vessel.

Question

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

Answer 1

False

Clarify Question
What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        • The key concept is the relationship between vessel radius and volume through the vessel.
What type of thinking is required?
                o You are being asked to take what you already know and apply to a new situation.
What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?
        • Xylem, which is the vascular tissue that carries water through a plant.
        • Mutation, which refers to a mistake or misreading in the genetic material.

Gather Content
What do you already know about the relationship between the radius and volume in a vessel? How does it relate to the question?
        • Xylem carries water through plant tissue.
        • As the radius of xylem increases, the volume increases by r4.

Consider Possibilities
What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?
        • A decrease in the radius of xylem would decrease volume.

Choose Answer
Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        • You need to connect the idea that an increase in radius is linked to an increase in volume.

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 the concept of increasing xylem radius to increasing volume. Answering this question correctly depended on your ability to use the relationship between xylem radius and volume to 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 as xylem radius increases, volume increases by r4? Did you have trouble extending this direct relationship to determine the correct answer?