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Question 1:

What is mutualism?

A) The interaction where one organism captures and feeds on another organism
B) The consumption of plant material by animals
C) The interaction where two organisms benefit from each other
D) The interaction where one organism benefits and the other is harmed

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Explanation: The correct answer is C) The interaction where two organisms benefit from each other. Mutualism is a type of symbiotic interaction where both organisms involved benefit from the relationship. Each organism provides resources or services that the other needs, resulting in a mutually advantageous association.

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Question 2:

What is symbiosis?

A) The interaction where one organism captures and feeds on another organism
B) The consumption of plant material by animals
C) The interaction where two organisms benefit from each other
D) The interaction where one organism benefits and the other is harmed

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Explanation: The correct answer is D) The interaction where one organism benefits and the other is harmed. Symbiosis is a broader term encompassing various types of long-term interactions between different species. It includes mutualistic relationships, as well as other types such as parasitism (where one organism benefits and the other is harmed) and commensalism (where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected).

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Question 3:

Which of the following is an example of mutualism?

A) A tick feeding on the blood of a dog
B) A bee pollinating flowers and obtaining nectar
C) A lion hunting and killing a zebra
D) A tapeworm infecting the intestines of a human

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Explanation: The correct answer is B) A bee pollinating flowers and obtaining nectar. In this mutualistic relationship, the bee benefits by obtaining nectar as a food source, while the flowers benefit from the bee's pollination services, aiding in their reproduction. Mutualistic interactions in pollination are vital for the survival and diversity of flowering plants.

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Question 4:

Which of the following is an example of commensalism?

A) A clownfish living among the tentacles of a sea anemone
B) A spider capturing and consuming insects caught in its web
C) A remora fish hitching a ride on a shark
D) A predator capturing and feeding on its prey

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Explanation: The correct answer is C) A remora fish hitching a ride on a shark. Commensalism is a type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other remains unaffected. In this example, the remora fish benefits by using the shark as a mode of transportation, while the shark is neither harmed nor benefited by the presence of the remora fish.

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Question 5:

What is an example of obligate mutualism?

A) Cleaner fish removing parasites from the skin of other fish
B) Birds feeding on the nectar of flowers and assisting in pollination
C) A plant providing shelter and nutrients to ants in exchange for protection
D) Fungi forming mycorrhizal associations with plant roots to exchange nutrients

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Explanation: The correct answer is D) Fungi forming mycorrhizal associations with plant roots to exchange nutrients. Obligate mutualism refers to a mutualistic relationship where both organisms are dependent on each other and cannot survive without the partnership. In mycorrhizal associations, the fungi provide essential nutrients to the plant roots, while the plant supplies the fungi with carbohydrates produced through photosynthesis.