The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Here are the correct answers and a detailed explanation.
21. Organisms in this kingdom include daisies, pine trees, and apples: Plantae
22. This kingdom includes organisms that live in extreme environments: Archaea
Explanation
21. Kingdom Plantae
The correct answer for the first statement is the kingdom Plantae. This kingdom encompasses all plants, which are characterized as multicellular, eukaryotic organisms that are primarily autotrophic. The examples given, daisies, pine trees, and apples, are all directly related to this kingdom.
- Daisies and Apple Trees: These are examples of angiosperms, or flowering plants. They produce flowers for reproduction, which, once pollinated, develop into fruits that contain seeds. An apple is the mature fruit of an apple tree, designed to protect the seeds and aid in their dispersal.
- Pine Trees: These are examples of gymnosperms. Unlike angiosperms, they do not produce flowers or fruits. Instead, they produce “naked” seeds, which are typically found on the scales of cones.
Despite these differences, all these organisms share the fundamental characteristics of the Plant kingdom. They possess rigid cell walls made of cellulose, which provide structural support. Most importantly, they perform photosynthesis, using chloroplasts in their cells to convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose (energy) and oxygen. This process makes them the primary producers in most terrestrial ecosystems, forming the base of the food web.
22. Kingdom Archaea
The correct answer for the second statement is the kingdom Archaea (sometimes referred to as Archaebacteria in older classification systems). This kingdom is defined by its members’ ability to survive and thrive in some of the most extreme environments on Earth, places where most other life forms cannot exist. These organisms are known as extremophiles.
Archaea are single-celled, prokaryotic organisms, meaning their cells lack a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles, similar to bacteria. However, they are genetically and biochemically distinct from bacteria. Their unique cell membranes, which contain ether-linked lipids rather than the ester-linked lipids found in bacteria and eukaryotes, are a key adaptation that allows them to withstand harsh conditions.
Examples of extremophile archaea include:
- Thermophiles: These archaea live in extremely hot environments, such as deep-sea hydrothermal vents and volcanic hot springs, at temperatures that would denature the proteins and enzymes of other organisms.
- Halophiles: These archaea thrive in highly saline (salty) environments, like the Great Salt Lake in Utah or the Dead Sea, which are too salty for most other life.
- Methanogens: These archaea produce methane gas as a metabolic byproduct and live in anaerobic (oxygen-free) environments, such as swamps, marshes, and the digestive tracts of animals like cows.
