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Illinois Extension Master Gardener Program
Questions And Correct Answers Plus Rationales
- What is the best time to prune most deciduous trees? A. Summer B. Late winter or early spring C. Early fall D. During flowering Pruning in late winter or early spring reduces stress and allows the tree to heal quickly when it becomes active in the growing season.
- Which soil texture has the best drainage? A. Clay B. Silty clay C. Sandy loam D. Loam Sandy loam has larger particles allowing water to drain quickly compared to clay or silt.
- What is the pH range most vegetables prefer? A. 4.0–5. B. 6.0–7.
C. 7.5–8.
D. 5.0–5.
Most garden vegetables thrive in slightly acidic to neutral pH soils.
- What nutrient deficiency causes yellowing between leaf veins in older leaves? A. Nitrogen B. Phosphorus C. Magnesium D. Iron Magnesium deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis in older leaves because magnesium is mobile in the plant.
- Which of the following is a cool-season vegetable? A. Lettuce B. Sweet potato C. Tomato D. Eggplant Lettuce grows best in cool temperatures and can bolt in heat.
- What is the function of phosphorus in plants? A. Promotes leaf growth B. Enhances disease resistance C. Supports root development and flowering D. Increases fruit size
A. Increase irrigation B. Practice crop rotation C. Add more fertilizer D. Plant earlier Crop rotation prevents pathogens from building up in the soil by changing plant families. 11.Which of the following improves clay soil drainage? A. Lime B. Water retention crystals C. Organic matter D. Epsom salt Adding compost or other organic material improves soil structure and drainage. 12.What is the botanical term for a plant that lives two years? A. Biennial B. Annual C. Perennial D. Deciduous Biennials complete their life cycle in two years: vegetative growth the first year, flowering the second. 13.What garden practice encourages bushier growth in plants? A. Fertilizing B. Pinching back tips
C. Watering heavily D. Cutting roots Pinching the growing tips stimulates lateral growth, making the plant bushier. 14.Which part of the plant is primarily responsible for photosynthesis? A. Leaf B. Stem C. Flower D. Root Leaves contain chloroplasts which carry out photosynthesis. 15.Which Illinois native plant is known for attracting butterflies? A. Red Maple B. Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) C. Boxwood D. Bluegrass Butterfly weed is a milkweed species that provides nectar and larval food for monarchs. 16.What does "hardening off" seedlings mean? A. Fertilizing them B. Gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions C. Stopping water D. Trimming leaves Hardening off helps seedlings adjust to sun, wind, and temperature before transplanting.
C. Always on the surface D. 1 foot Seed planting depth depends on size; too deep and they won’t emerge. 21.What type of plant is daylily? A. Annual B. Biennial C. Herbaceous perennial D. Woody shrub Daylilies die back in winter and return each year from underground roots. 22.What is IPM? A. Irrigation Program Manual B. Integrated Pest Management C. Insect Pesticide Mechanism D. Inoculated Plant Maintenance IPM uses a combination of methods to manage pests with minimal environmental impact. 23.Which of the following would be best to raise soil pH? A. Sulfur B. Lime C. Compost D. Iron sulfate Lime (calcium carbonate) raises soil pH to reduce acidity.
24.What is a stolon? A. A horizontal stem growing above ground B. A root modification C. A flower bud D. A seedpod Stolons, like those in strawberries, help plants spread by rooting at nodes. 25.What is the function of stomata? A. Regulate gas exchange and water loss B. Absorb nutrients C. Store sugars D. Anchor plant Stomata are pores on leaves that control water loss and carbon dioxide intake. 26.What is the purpose of deadheading? A. Reduces size B. Encourages more blooms C. Causes plant dormancy D. Protects from frost Removing spent blooms encourages further flowering and maintains plant appearance. 27.Which of these is an example of a monocot? A. Oak B. Corn
31.What is a cover crop? A. A plant grown to improve soil between crop cycles B. A plastic mulch C. A permanent crop D. A decorative plant Cover crops improve soil fertility, structure, and suppress weeds. 32.What type of fertilizer provides nutrients over time? A. Liquid B. Slow-release C. Foliar D. Compost tea Slow-release fertilizers break down gradually, reducing leaching. 33.What is chlorosis? A. Fungal disease B. Yellowing of leaves due to lack of chlorophyll C. Excess nitrogen D. Fruit spotting Chlorosis is a symptom of nutrient deficiency or poor root function. 34.What do legumes add to soil? A. Phosphorus B. Nitrogen C. Potassium D. Iron
Legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen through root nodules containing Rhizobium bacteria. 35.What is the minimum hours of sunlight for full sun plants? A. 2 B. 4 C. 5 D. 6 Full sun plants need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight for optimal growth. 36.What causes damping-off in seedlings? A. Lack of fertilizer B. Fungal pathogens in wet conditions C. Insects D. Overheating Damping-off is a fungal disease that affects seedlings in overly wet, cool environments. 37.What is a soil test primarily used for? A. Determining pest problems B. Checking plant growth C. Measuring nutrient levels and pH D. Identifying weeds Soil tests guide fertilization and soil amendment based on actual needs. 38.What insect pest forms galls on oak leaves?
Drummer silty clay loam is the official Illinois state soil and highly productive for crops. 42.What’s the primary benefit of compost? A. Increases soil acidity B. Improves soil structure and adds nutrients C. Kills pathogens D. Speeds evaporation Compost adds organic matter, improves texture, and feeds beneficial microbes. 43.What is the term for water movement through soil? A. Permeation B. Percolation C. Irrigation D. Absorption Percolation is the downward movement of water through the soil profile. 44.What is the ideal mulch depth? A. 0.5 inch B. 2–4 inches C. 6–8 inches D. 10 inches Too much mulch can suffocate roots; 2–4 inches is ideal. 45.Which is a dioecious plant? A. Tomato B. Holly
C. Bean D. Marigold Holly has male and female plants; both are needed for berry production. 46.What is girdling? A. Cutting off circulation around a tree’s trunk or root B. Fertilizing too much C. Transplanting improperly D. Mulching Girdling prevents nutrient flow, eventually killing the tree. 47.What happens to nitrogen in waterlogged soils? A. It is lost through denitrification B. It becomes more available C. It binds to roots D. It turns into phosphorus Anaerobic microbes convert nitrates into gases that escape from wet soils. 48.When should spring-flowering bulbs be planted? A. Summer B. Spring C. Winter D. Fall Fall planting allows bulbs to establish roots before spring bloom. 49.Which insect damages plants by piercing and sucking sap?
C. Shearing D. Topping Thinning cuts remove branches at their origin and preserve natural form. 53.Which of these is a symptom of overwatering? A. Wilting despite wet soil B. Brittle dry leaves C. Leaf burn D. Flower drop Overwatered roots can't absorb oxygen, leading to wilting even when soil is moist. 54.Which type of grass seed is best suited for shaded Illinois lawns? A. Bermudagrass B. Zoysiagrass C. Fine fescue D. Tall fescue Fine fescues tolerate shade better than most turf grasses. 55.What is allelopathy? A. A fungal disease B. Chemical inhibition of one plant by another C. Overcrowding of plants D. Insect resistance Allelopathic plants release biochemicals that affect the growth of nearby plants (e.g., black walnut).
56.Which vegetable is typically grown using a trellis? A. Lettuce B. Carrot C. Pole beans D. Radish Pole beans grow as vines and need vertical support for optimal growth. 57.What are root nodules? A. Insect galls B. Nutrient storage cells C. Sites of nitrogen fixation in legumes D. Fungal infections Root nodules house bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form plants can use. 58.What’s the best time to harvest most herbs for maximum flavor? A. Late evening B. After flowering C. Just before flowering D. After heavy rain Essential oils are most concentrated just before the herb flowers. 59.Which of these can be propagated by leaf cuttings? A. African violet B. Tomato
63.What happens when you plant tomatoes in the same spot every year? A. Better yields B. Weed suppression C. Disease buildup D. Pest reduction Planting the same crop repeatedly encourages soilborne diseases and depletes nutrients. 64.Which houseplant is known for air-purifying qualities? A. English ivy B. Snake plant (Sansevieria) C. Croton D. Pothos Snake plants filter indoor air and tolerate low light and neglect. 65.What is the main function of flowers in plants? A. Photosynthesis B. Water storage C. Reproduction D. Growth Flowers contain reproductive organs and facilitate pollination. 66.What causes tip burn in lettuce? A. Calcium deficiency B. Aphid infestation
C. Excess sun D. Low nitrogen Tip burn is often due to rapid growth outpacing calcium delivery to leaf tips. 67.When should you prune spring-flowering shrubs? A. Late winter B. After blooming C. Fall D. During dormancy Spring bloomers should be pruned after flowering, or you'll remove the flower buds. 68.What is a hybrid plant? A. Cross of two genetically distinct plants B. A GMO C. A plant from cuttings D. An heirloom Hybrids are bred for desirable traits like disease resistance or yield. 69.Which structure anchors mosses to surfaces? A. Rhizoids B. Roots C. Runners D. Corms Mosses use rhizoids (not true roots) to anchor themselves. 70.What is deadheading?
