Download Virginia Environmental Horticulture Curriculum, covering Units 1–5 (Botany, Soils, Plant and more Exams Gardening and Horticulture in PDF only on Docsity!
Virginia Environmental Horticulture Curriculum, covering Units 1– 5
(Botany, Soils, Plant Science, Pest Management, and Environmental
Practices), with Unit 34 career content integrated Questions And
Correct Answers Plus Rationales 2025
- Which plant part is primarily responsible for absorbing water and nutrients? a. Stem b. Leaf c. Root d. Flower Roots anchor the plant and absorb water and nutrients from the soil.
- What is the function of xylem in vascular plants? a. Transport sugars b. Transport water and minerals c. Protect against pests d. Produce chlorophyll Xylem transports water and minerals from roots to other plant parts.
- A soil with equal parts sand, silt, and clay is classified as: a. Clay b. Sandy loam c. Loam d. Peaty
Loam soil is ideal for plant growth and contains a balanced mixture of sand, silt, and clay.
- The process by which a plant converts sunlight into food is: a. Respiration b. Photosynthesis c. Transpiration d. Fermentation Photosynthesis enables plants to create glucose using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.
- Which macronutrient promotes root development? a. Nitrogen b. Phosphorus c. Potassium d. Calcium Phosphorus supports strong root systems and early plant growth.
- Which pest control method includes using ladybugs to eat aphids? a. Chemical control b. Biological control c. Mechanical control d. Cultural control Biological control uses natural predators or parasites to reduce pest populations.
- Which horizon of soil is referred to as topsoil? a. A horizon
Meristematic tissue contains undifferentiated cells that divide and enable growth. 11.Which element is most responsible for green leafy growth in plants? a. Potassium b. Phosphorus c. Nitrogen d. Magnesium Nitrogen is essential for vegetative growth and chlorophyll production. 12.IPM stands for: a. Integrated Plant Management b. Immediate Pest Monitoring c. Integrated Pest Management d. Insect Pesticide Method Integrated Pest Management is a balanced approach using multiple strategies to control pests. 13.What does pH measure in soil? a. Salinity b. Organic content c. Acidity or alkalinity d. Nutrient level pH determines how acidic or basic the soil is, affecting nutrient availability. 14.Which of the following is a micronutrient? a. Phosphorus
b. Zinc c. Potassium d. Calcium Zinc is needed in small amounts and classified as a micronutrient. 15.Soil compaction reduces: a. Water evaporation b. Nutrient content c. Air and water movement d. Soil color variation Compacted soil limits root growth and reduces water/air movement. 16.Which term refers to the arrangement of leaves on a stem? a. Morphology b. Phyllotaxy c. Phototropism d. Anthesis Phyllotaxy is the pattern of leaf arrangement on a stem. 17.Which is an example of a warm-season grass? a. Kentucky bluegrass b. Perennial ryegrass c. Bermuda grass d. Fescue Bermuda grass thrives in warm temperatures and is common in southern U.S. lawns.
Photosynthesis produces oxygen as a byproduct of converting CO₂ and water into glucose. 22.An example of a monocot plant is: a. Corn b. Bean c. Sunflower d. Pea Corn has parallel veins and one seed leaf, characteristics of monocots. 23.The vascular tissue that transports food is: a. Xylem b. Phloem c. Cambium d. Cortex Phloem transports the products of photosynthesis throughout the plant. 24.Nitrogen deficiency causes leaves to appear: a. Purple b. Curled c. Yellow d. Brown-spotted Yellowing (chlorosis) often indicates nitrogen deficiency. 25.What is the best way to manage fungal diseases in a greenhouse? a. Increase humidity b. Improve air circulation c. Apply insecticide
d. Overwater plants Good air flow reduces moisture and helps prevent fungal growth. 26.The process of water movement from soil to roots is called: a. Osmosis b. Diffusion c. Absorption d. Capillarity Roots absorb water from the soil through osmosis. 27.What part of the flower produces pollen? a. Pistil b. Anther c. Stigma d. Ovary The anther is part of the stamen and produces pollen. 28.Clay soils are typically: a. Fast-draining b. High in sand c. Poorly drained and compact d. Acidic Clay particles are small and tightly packed, limiting drainage. 29.What term describes the plant response to light direction? a. Geotropism b. Hydrotropism c. Phototropism
d. Flower Roots stabilize plants and help prevent erosion. 34.Which soil texture has the highest water retention? a. Sand b. Clay c. Silt d. Loam Clay retains water the longest due to small particles and limited pore space. 35.The stigma is part of which flower structure? a. Anther b. Pistil c. Petal d. Sepal The pistil is the female part of the flower, with stigma as the pollen- receiving surface. 36.The green pigment responsible for photosynthesis is: a. Xanthophyll b. Anthocyanin c. Chlorophyll d. Carotene Chlorophyll captures light energy to fuel photosynthesis. 37.Plant propagation using stems, leaves, or roots is: a. Sexual reproduction
b. Asexual propagation c. Germination d. Hybridization Asexual propagation creates clones from parts of the original plant. 38.What is the correct order of soil particle size (largest to smallest)? a. Silt, sand, clay b. Clay, sand, silt c. Sand, silt, clay d. Silt, clay, sand Sand is the largest, followed by silt, then clay. 39.Fertilizer burn is usually caused by: a. Drought b. Over-fertilization c. Lack of sun d. Fungicide use Excess salts from fertilizers can damage plant roots and tissues. 40.What is the function of guard cells? a. Transport sugar b. Support flower parts c. Regulate stomata d. Store nutrients Guard cells open and close stomata to control gas exchange. 41.Which tool is used to test soil pH? a. Hydrometer
45.Which plant hormone promotes cell elongation? a. Cytokinin b. Auxin c. Gibberellin d. Ethylene Auxin helps with stem elongation and root development. 46.Organic matter in soil is known as: a. Sediment b. Loam c. Humus d. Clay Humus enriches soil with nutrients and improves structure. 47.Which of the following best describes sustainable horticulture? a. Maximizing pesticide use b. Using plastic mulches c. Conserving resources and minimizing waste d. Monocropping Sustainability focuses on long-term health of ecosystems and human use. 48.What is the ideal pH range for most plants? a. 3.5–4. b. 6.0– 7. c. 7.5–8. d. 8.0–9.
Most plants prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil for optimal nutrient uptake. 49.Which is the most accurate way to diagnose a plant disease? a. Visual inspection only b. Lab analysis c. Watering less d. Fertilizing more Lab testing confirms pathogens with precision. 50.What career involves diagnosing plant diseases? a. Agronomist b. Irrigation technician c. Plant pathologist d. Florist Plant pathologists study diseases affecting plants and develop control methods. 51.Which soil component provides the best drainage? a. Clay b. Silt c. Sand d. Peat Sand has large particles and allows water to move through quickly. 52.Which element helps plants resist disease and strengthens cell walls? a. Nitrogen
56.What is the primary benefit of using mulch in landscaping? a. Increases soil pH b. Reduces weed growth and retains moisture c. Promotes disease d. Increases soil compaction Mulch helps conserve moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. 57.What is a symptom of overwatering a plant? a. Dry, brittle leaves b. Wilting due to lack of water c. Yellowing leaves and root rot d. Rapid flowering Overwatering deprives roots of oxygen and may cause yellow leaves and rot. 58.A plant that lives for many years is called: a. Annual b. Biennial c. Perennial d. Monocarpic Perennials survive for three or more seasons, regrowing each year. 59.What is the ideal condition for composting? a. Dry and cold b. Moist and warm c. Hot and dry
d. Wet and compact Compost breaks down faster in moist, warm, aerated conditions. 60.What type of fertilizer releases nutrients slowly over time? a. Liquid b. Foliar c. Slow-release d. Organic manure Slow-release fertilizers provide a steady nutrient supply over weeks or months. 61.What is a node on a plant stem? a. Root tip b. Point where leaves or branches grow c. Flower bud d. Leaf vein A node is where buds, leaves, or branches emerge on the stem. 62.What is the role of mycorrhizal fungi in soil? a. Decompose plastic b. Help plant roots absorb water and nutrients c. Produce nitrogen d. Repel pests Mycorrhizal fungi form beneficial relationships with roots, improving nutrient uptake. 63.The term “hardening off” refers to: a. Pruning a plant
67.The plant hormone responsible for fruit ripening is: a. Auxin b. Gibberellin c. Ethylene d. Cytokinin Ethylene is a natural gas hormone that promotes ripening and leaf drop. 68.What is a primary indicator of soil fertility? a. Texture b. Organic matter content c. Color d. Drainage Organic matter improves nutrient content, water retention, and structure. 69.Which of the following is NOT part of a complete fertilizer label? a. Nitrogen b. Potassium c. Magnesium d. Phosphorus Complete fertilizers list NPK, but not secondary nutrients like magnesium. 70.What is a career that requires knowledge of both plants and marketing? a. Soil scientist b. Irrigation technician c. Garden center manager d. Agronomist
Garden center managers combine plant knowledge with business and customer service. 71.Which pest leaves a sticky residue called honeydew? a. Cutworm b. Spider mite c. Aphid d. White grub Aphids secrete honeydew, which can lead to sooty mold growth. 72.What is photoperiodism? a. Water movement in plants b. Plant response to length of daylight c. Heat resistance d. Response to gravity Photoperiodism influences flowering based on light exposure duration. 73.Which plant part is mainly involved in transpiration? a. Stem b. Root c. Leaf d. Flower Leaves release water vapor through stomata during transpiration. 74.What tool is used to measure rainfall in a landscape? a. Hygrometer b. Rain gauge c. Tensiometer
