Mycorrhizal fungi infect more plants than do any other fungi and are

Passage Summary:
1. Mycorrhizal fungi (MF) - is needed for plant but researchers have not been able to do much study on it (untill now)
2. why researchers were not doing much - two reasons are given
3. but now a new study has been able to make some progress.
4. findings of the study are discussed
5. however, due to some inconclusive research, there is scope of further study.

1. Which of the following most accurately describes the passage?

(A) A description of a replicable experiment - replicable word is problematic as it constrained the entire para
(B) A summary report of new findings - yep
(C) A recommendation for abandoning a difficult area of research - no reco has been given
(D) A refutation of an earlier hypothesis - refutation - nope
(E) A confirmation of earlier research - confirmation - nope

2. The level of information in the passage above is suited to the needs of all of the following people EXCEPT

(A) a researcher whose job is to identify potentially profitable areas for research and product development - yes, since the study still has some inconclusive areas.
(B) a state official whose position requires her to alert farmers about possible innovations in farming - yes,
refer line"there has been important new work that suggests that this symbiotic association can be harnessed to achieve more economical use of costly superphosphate fertilizer and to permit better exploitation of cheaper, less soluble rock phosphate. "

(C) an official of a research foundation who identifies research projects for potential funding - yes, since the study still has some inconclusive areas.

(D) a biologist attempting to keep up with scientific developments in an area outside of his immediate area of specialization - yes, because, while inconclusive, there is a new study done for partial correctness.

(E) a botanist conducting experiments to determine the relationship between degree of mycorrhizal infection and expected uptake of phosphate - only mentioned line is "Mycorrhizal benefits are not limited to improved phosphate uptake in host plants". it doesnt show the relationship degree. so correct.

3. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following has been a factor influencing the extent to which research on mycorrhizal fungi has progressed?

(A) Lack of funding for such research
(B) Lack of immediate application of such research
(C) Lack of a method for identifying mycorrhizal fungi
(D) Difficulties surrounding laboratory production of specimens for study - refer the reasons why researchers have not been able to do much untill now, reason number 2. the fungi cannot as yet be cultivated in the absence of a living root.
(E) Difficulties ensuing from the high cost and scarcity of superphosphate fertilizers


4. The passage suggests which of the following about the increased resistance to harmful root fungi that some plants infected with mycorrhizal fungi seem to exhibit?

last line "this resistance results from a. exclusion of harmful fungi through competition for sites, b. from metabolic change involving antibiotic production, or c. from increased vigor is undetermined.

(A) There are at least three hypotheses that might account for the increase. yes, atleast 3.
(B) An explanation lies in the fact that mycorrhizal fungi increase more rapidly in number than harmful root fungi do. - partially true.
(C) The plants that show increased resistance also exhibit improved nitrogen fixation.- nope.
(D) Such increases may be independent of mycorrhizal infection. - may be, - partially true.
(E) It is unlikely that a satisfactory explanation can be found to account for the increase. - not true. as it is still inconclusive.