The Root — NEET Biology MCQs with Solutions
Free NEET Biology The Root MCQs with step-by-step solutions (38 questions). Part of Morphology of Flowering Plants. Practise online on Prepizo — no login needed.
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Questions with solutions
Q1 — The Root · easy · theory
The region of the root that bears delicate thread-like root hairs (for absorption) is the:
A. Region of elongation
B. Root cap
C. Region of maturation ✓ Correct
D. Region of meristematic activity
Solution: Root hairs, which absorb water and minerals, arise in the region of maturation (differentiation).
Q2 — The Root · easy · theory
Tap roots develop from the ______, characteristic of dicots:
A. Hypocotyl
B. Plumule
C. Coleorhiza
D. Radicle ✓ Correct
Solution: The primary (tap) root arises from the radicle and gives lateral roots; monocots have fibrous roots.
Q3 — The Root · medium · theory
Prop roots of the banyan tree and stilt roots of maize/sugarcane are examples of modifications for:
A. Mechanical support ✓ Correct
B. Respiration
C. Photosynthesis
D. Storage of food
Solution: Prop and stilt roots are supporting roots; storage roots include carrot/turnip; pneumatophores aid respiration.
Q4 — The Root · medium · theory
Pneumatophores, seen in mangroves like Rhizophora, are modified roots that help in:
A. Nitrogen fixation
B. Support
C. Storage
D. Respiration (gaseous exchange in marshy soil) ✓ Correct
Solution: Pneumatophores grow vertically upward out of waterlogged soil to obtain oxygen.
Q5 — The Root · hard · theory
The root cap, which protects the tender root apex as it pushes through soil, is ABSENT/modified in:
A. All monocots
B. Storage roots
C. Aquatic plants (root pockets) and some parasites ✓ Correct
D. All dicots
Solution: Many aquatic plants have root pockets instead of root caps; the root cap otherwise protects the apical meristem.
Q6 — The Root · hard · theory
Which correctly pairs a storage root with its plant?
A. Fusiform — radish; Conical — carrot; Napiform — turnip ✓ Correct
B. Fusiform — carrot; Conical — radish
C. Napiform — carrot
D. Conical — turnip
Solution: Radish is fusiform, carrot conical, and turnip napiform — classic tap-root storage modifications.
Q7 — The Root · easy · numerical
A radish plant swells at its base to store food, and this swollen structure develops from a primary root. To which category of storage root does the radish belong?
A. Napiform tap root
B. Conical tap root
C. Fusiform tap root ✓ Correct
D. Nodulose adventitious root
Solution: Radish is a fusiform root — swollen in the middle and tapering at both ends. Carrot is conical (broad at top), turnip is napiform (spherical).
Q8 — The Root · easy · numerical
In a maize plant, roots arising from the lower nodes of the stem enter the soil and give extra mechanical support. What are such roots correctly called?
A. Stilt roots ✓ Correct
B. Pneumatophores
C. Fibrous roots
D. Prop roots
Solution: Roots from the basal nodes that arch down for support in maize and sugarcane are stilt roots. Prop roots hang from branches (banyan); both are supporting adventitious roots but arise differently.
Q9 — The Root · easy · numerical
A monocot seedling germinates and its primary root soon dies, being replaced by a cluster of roots arising from the base of the stem. This root system is:
A. Tap root system
B. Storage tap root system
C. Fibrous root system ✓ Correct
D. Pneumatophore system
Solution: In monocots the short-lived primary root is replaced by many roots from the stem base, forming a fibrous root system, characteristic of wheat and grasses.
Q10 — The Root · medium · numerical
Match the modified root with its function: (i) Tinospora hanging roots (ii) Rhizophora upright roots (iii) Banyan pillar-like roots (iv) Sugarcane basal-node roots — with (p) support by growing down from branches (q) gaseous exchange (r) photosynthesis (s) mechanical support arching from nodes. The correct match is:
A. (i)-r, (ii)-q, (iii)-p, (iv)-s ✓ Correct
B. (i)-p, (ii)-q, (iii)-r, (iv)-s
C. (i)-r, (ii)-p, (iii)-q, (iv)-s
D. (i)-q, (ii)-r, (iii)-p, (iv)-s
Solution: Tinospora bears assimilatory (photosynthetic) roots (r); Rhizophora has pneumatophores for gaseous exchange (q); banyan has prop roots growing down (p); sugarcane has stilt roots from nodes (s).
Q11 — The Root · medium · numerical
Which statement about the regions of a young root is INCORRECT?
A. The region of elongation bears the root hairs that absorb water and minerals ✓ Correct
B. The region of meristematic activity lies just behind the root cap and has small, thin-walled dividing cells
C. The root cap protects the tender apex as the root pushes through the soil
D. The region of maturation lies proximal to the region of elongation and its cells differentiate
Solution: Root hairs occur in the region of maturation, not the region of elongation. The elongation region cells enlarge and elongate; the maturation region bears root hairs for absorption.
Q12 — The Root · medium · numerical
A leguminous plant such as pea forms small swellings on its lateral roots that house nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These swellings are:
A. Moniliform roots, which swell at regular intervals like beads
B. Pneumatophores, which open pores to the atmosphere for oxygen
C. Root nodules, which are modified for storage of a symbiont, not the plant's own food ✓ Correct
D. Nodulose storage roots, which store the plant's own starch in swollen tips
Solution: Legume roots bear nodules that harbour Rhizobium for nitrogen fixation. They are a symbiotic modification, distinct from storage roots (which store the plant's food) or breathing roots.
Q13 — The Root · medium · theory
In which of the following plants do roots not help in the absorption of water?
A. Wheat
B. Sunflower
C. Pea
D. Pistia ✓ Correct
Solution: Pistia is a free-floating hydrophyte that absorbs water over its whole surface, so its roots do not function in absorption.
Q14 — The Root · easy · theory
The edible part of turnip is -
A. Adventitious root
B. Fusiform root
C. Tuberous root
D. Napiform root ✓ Correct
Solution: Turnip is a top-shaped napiform tap root modified for food storage.
Q15 — The Root · easy · theory
Which is a modification of root that does not store food?
A. Napiform root
B. Tuberous root
C. Stilt root ✓ Correct
D. Fusiform root
Solution: Stilt roots provide mechanical support, while napiform, fusiform and tuberous roots store food.
Q16 — The Root · easy · theory
Main function of prop roots of Banyan tree is?
A. Providing support to the big tree ✓ Correct
B. Respiration
C. Storage of food
D. Absorption of water from soil
Solution: The pillar-like prop roots of banyan give mechanical support to the massive spreading branches.
Q17 — The Root · medium · theory
Which of the following root is mainly modified for mechanical support?
A. Tuberous root of sweet potato
B. Napiform root of turnip
C. Pneumatophore of Rhizophora
D. Stilt root of maize ✓ Correct
Solution: Stilt roots of maize grow from lower nodes and give mechanical support to the plant.
Q18 — The Root · medium · theory
Pneumatophores are found in-
A. Epiphytes
B. Xerophytes
C. The vegetation found in dry deserts
D. The vegetation found in marshy and saline swamps ✓ Correct
Solution: Mangrove plants of marshy, saline swamps develop upward-growing pneumatophores for respiration.
Q19 — The Root · hard · theory
Sweet potato is homologous to :-
A. Turnip ✓ Correct
B. Colocasia
C. Ginger
D. Potato
Solution: Sweet potato and turnip are both modified roots, so they share a common origin and are homologous.
Q20 — The Root · easy · theory
Root hairs develop from the region of :
A. Elongation
B. Meristematic activity
C. Maturation ✓ Correct
D. Root cap
Solution: Root hairs arise from the region of maturation (differentiation) just behind the elongation zone.
Q21 — The Root · medium · theory
Pneumatophores occur in
A. Submerged hydrophytes
B. Free-floating hydrophytes
C. Carnivorous plants
D. Halophytes ✓ Correct
Solution: Halophytes (mangroves) growing in oxygen-poor saline mud develop breathing pneumatophores.
Q22 — The Root · medium · theory
Sweet potato is a modified
A. Rhizome
B. Stem
C. Adventitious root ✓ Correct
D. Tap root
Solution: Sweet potato is a tuberous, adventitious root modified for food storage.
Q23 — The Root · medium · theory
The roots that originate from the base of the stem are :
A. Primary roots
B. Lateral roots
C. Prop roots
D. Fibrous roots ✓ Correct
Solution: In monocots, adventitious fibrous roots arise as a cluster from the base of the stem.
Q24 — The Root · easy · theory
Roots developing from plant parts other than the radicle are :-
A. Adventitious roots ✓ Correct
B. Primary roots
C. Fibrous roots only
D. Tap roots
Solution: Roots arising from any part other than the radicle are termed adventitious roots.
Q25 — The Root · easy · theory
Prop roots are :-
A. Primary roots
B. Adventitious roots ✓ Correct
C. Secondary roots
D. Tap roots
Solution: Prop roots grow from branches (not the radicle), so they are adventitious roots.
Q26 — The Root · easy · theory
Stilt roots occur in :-
A. Wheat
B. Sugarcane ✓ Correct
C. Groundnut
D. Rice
Solution: Sugarcane develops supporting stilt roots from its lower nodes.
Q27 — The Root · easy · theory
Pneumatophores take part in :-
A. Respiration ✓ Correct
B. Excretion
C. Feeding
D. Reproduction
Solution: Negatively geotropic pneumatophores obtain oxygen for root respiration in marshy soils.
Q28 — The Root · medium · theory
Read the given statements and select the correct ones: (i) Root caps are present in prop roots. (ii) Pneumatophores help to get oxygen for respiration. (iii) Edible part of ginger is underground stem. (iv) Hydrophytes usually possess a well developed root system.
A. (ii) and (iii)
B. (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
C. (i), (ii) and (iii) ✓ Correct
D. (i) and (ii)
Solution: Statements i-iii are correct; hydrophytes have a poorly developed (reduced) root system, so (iv) is wrong.
Q29 — The Root · medium · theory
Which one of the plant groups contains modified adventitious roots :-
A. Mustard, Banyan, Wheat
B. Monstera, Banyan, Maize ✓ Correct
C. Mustard, Grass, Banyan
D. Carrot, Grass, Mustard
Solution: Monstera (clinging), banyan (prop) and maize (stilt) all bear modified adventitious roots.
Q30 — The Root · medium · theory
Read the following four statements and select the correct statement.
A. Parasitic roots are found in money plant
B. Nodulated roots are present in maize
C. Haustorial roots are found in Cuscuta ✓ Correct
D. Sweet potato is not an example of tuberous root
Solution: Cuscuta is a parasite that develops haustorial (sucking) roots; the other statements are false.