Ten questions on plant life and the practical gardening that follows from it, each explained by mechanism.
Gardening advice is usually handed down as rules without reasons, which makes it hard to adapt when conditions change. This quiz covers the biology underneath: how plants make food, what roots take up, how pollination leads to fruit, and what the growth-habit terms actually mean. It includes adaptations such as those of cacti, which explain a great deal about watering. The explanations connect the botany to the practice throughout.
Every question in this quiz is listed below with its correct answer and the reasoning behind it. Play first if you would rather not see the answers — or read through as a study sheet.
Play it insteadAnswer: D. Photosynthesis
Why: Leaves convert light, water and carbon dioxide into sugars. Respiration is the separate process of releasing that stored energy.
Answer: B. Water and dissolved minerals
Why: Root hairs take up water with dissolved nutrients from the soil. Plants make their own sugars in the leaves rather than drawing them from soil.
Answer: A. Sheds its leaves annually
Why: Dropping leaves reduces water loss through winter, when roots cannot easily draw moisture from frozen ground. Evergreens instead use tougher, longer-lived leaves.
Answer: A. The ovary
Why: After fertilisation the ovary swells and matures into fruit, with the seeds inside. This is why botanists count tomatoes and cucumbers as fruit.
Answer: D. Lives for more than two years
Why: Perennials persist across many seasons, often dying back and regrowing. Annuals complete the whole cycle within a single year.
Answer: A. Absorbs light for photosynthesis
Why: It absorbs red and blue light strongly and reflects green, which is why leaves look green. Autumn colour appears as chlorophyll breaks down first.
Answer: B. Dry conditions
Why: Thick stems store water and spines reduce loss while deterring animals. Overwatering, not underwatering, is the usual cause of death indoors.
Answer: B. Grass
Why: Bamboo belongs to the grass family despite its woody appearance. Some species are among the fastest-growing plants known.
Answer: D. Soil structure and nutrient content
Why: Decomposed organic matter improves how soil holds water and air, and returns nutrients. It works slowly compared with synthetic fertiliser but lasts longer.
Answer: C. Insects and wind
Why: Insects carry pollen between flowers, while grasses and many trees rely on wind. Bright petals and scent are advertising aimed at pollinators.
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