Name: ______________________________ Block: ____________ Date: ____________

Assessment Questions
Directions: Circle the correct answer.

1. The graph below shows how light intensity affects oxygen production for an underwater plant.
According to the graph, what light intensity is optimal for photosynthesis?

A. 40%

B. 60%

C. 80%

D. 100%

2. Suppose a farmer decides to build a greenhouse using green-tinted glass instead of clear glass.
Why is this a bad idea?

A. Photosynthesis will occur at a much slower rate because green light is reflected by plants
rather than absorbed.

B. The green-tinted glass will trap too much heat, causing the plants to wilt and die.

C. The green part of the spectrum of sunlight will not be transmitted through the glass panes,
causing the plants to miss this important source of light energy.

D. The green light will trigger overproduction of CO2 by the plants, slowing the rate of
photosynthesis.

3. Based on what you have observed in this Gizmo, which of the following chemical equations
represents photosynthesis?
Name: ______________________________ Block: ____________ Date: ____________

A. Oxygen plus carbon dioxide yields water and glucose (sugar).

B. Glucose plus oxygen yields carbon dioxide and water.

C. Glucose plus water yields oxygen and carbon dioxide.

D. Carbon dioxide plus water yields glucose and oxygen.

4. A scientist wants to determine the best light wavelength for growing plants. He grows plants
in four groups as shown on the table below. What, if anything, is wrong with his experiment?

A. He should only grow one or two plants in each sample to obtain consistent results.

B. He should only change the wavelength of light for each group.

C. He should add a control group with a CO2 level of zero and a light intensity of zero
percent.

D. There is nothing wrong with the experiment.

5. In the last 100 years, the levels of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere have risen due to the
burning of fossil fuels and the clearing of forests. What effect will the increased concentration of
atmospheric CO2 have on photosynthesis?

A. Rates of photosynthesis will decrease because there is too much CO2 in the atmosphere.

B. Rates of photosynthesis will decrease because not enough oxygen is available to plants.

C. Rates of photosynthesis will increase because CO2 is a necessary ingredient for

photosynthesis.

D. Rates of photosynthesis will stay the same because CO2 levels have no effect

6. Which of the following can be used to measure the rate of photosynthesis?

A. light intensity (%)

B. oxygen production (mL/hr)

Name: ______________________________ Block: ____________ Date: ____________

C. temperature

D. CO2 level

7. You are a greenhouse manager. Your greenhouse currently has 40% light intensity and a 3%
concentration of CO2. Which of the following actions will increase the rate of photosynthesis for
the plants in your greenhouse?

A. decrease the CO2 level, decrease light intensity

B. increase the CO2 level, decrease light intensity

C. decrease the CO2 level, increase light intensity

D. increase the CO2 level, increase light intensity

8. In plants, the light-capturing pigment called chlorophyll is found in cell organelles called
chloroplasts. What type of leaf would be best suited to thrive in low-light areas such as shady
forests?

A. broad, flat leaves with a high density of chloroplasts

B. narrow leaves with a high density of chloroplasts

C. needle-like leaves with a low density of chloroplasts

D. thick, succulent leaves with a low density of chloroplasts

9. At which time of day do you think outdoor plants produce oxygen at the fastest rate?

A. sunrise

B. midday

C. sunset

D. midnight

10. If chlorophyll were red instead of green, making plants red in appearance, which color of
light would you expect to produce the LOWEST rate of photosynthesis?

A. white light

B. blue light

C. red light
Name: ______________________________ Block: ____________ Date: ____________

D. green light

11. Which of the test tubes shown below were most likely produced by a sprig of Elodea and a
snail in the dark after 24 hours of incubation?
Note: #1 is blue, #2 is blue/green, #3 is green, and #4 is yellow.

A. Test tube 1

B. Test tube 2

C. Test tube 3

D. Test tube 4

12. In a sealed tank is a large sprig of Elodea and a snail. The tank is kept for several weeks on a
sunny window sill. Both the plant and snail live and appear to be healthy. Why does this happen?

A. The snail produces oxygen, and the plant produces carbon dioxide.

B. Both the snail and the plant produce oxygen.

C. The snail produces carbon dioxide, while the plant produces oxygen.

D. Both the snail and plant produce carbon dioxide.

13. What evidence indicates that plants can produce carbon dioxide through cellular respiration?

A. A test tube of bromothymol blue with a plant turns blue in light.

B. A test tube of bromothymol blue with two plants turns yellow in the dark.

C. A test tube of bromothymol blue with a plant and a snail in the dark turns yellow.

D. A test tube of bromothymol blue with a plant and a snail remains green in light.
Name: ______________________________ Block: ____________ Date: ____________

14. A student has four snails, four sprigs of Elodea, eight test tubes of bromothymol blue, and
two rooms (light and dark). The student wants to know what gases are produced by the snails and
Elodea in light and dark conditions. Assuming the student only has time for one experiment,
what setup will yield the most complete data?

A. Experiment 1

B. Experiment 2

C. Experiment 3

D. Experiment 4