Question

A phylum common to unicellular plants and animals is
A. Monera
B. Plantae
C. Fungi
D. Protista

Answer 1

Hint: In this phylum, the organisms are eukaryotic. Most species are single-cellular, some colonial, and some algae-like multicellular. Most of the species in this phylum live in water, others in wet soil or even the human and plant body.

Complete step by step answer:
First we should know about five kingdom classification to answer this question. For centuries, biologists have been attempting to identify living species in different ways. In fact, Aristotle also categorised living creatures on the basis of whether they existed on soil, water or air. But a larger method of classifying living organisms was required by biologists. Thus came the naming of the Five Kingdoms. According to Whittaker, the classification of living creatures is broken down into five kingdoms: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
Now, let us find the solution from the options-
1. Monera is a kingdom of bacteria and blue-green algae that is unicellular in nature and they are prokaryotic organisms. Thus, the option A is incorrect.
2. Another kingdom that contains multicellular and eukaryotic species is Plantae. Thus, the option B is incorrect.
3. Fungi are another kingdom that is eukaryotic organisms and they are either multicellular (Rhizopus) or unicellular (yeast). Thus, the option C is incorrect.
4. Protista is a kingdom similar to unicellular animals and plants and they are plant-like (Euglena) or animal-like (Amoeba).

Thus, the correct answer is option (D) Protista

Note: In order to identify living objects, several scholars have come forth with numerous definitions. Some of them are Robert Whittaker (1959), Ernst Haeckel (1894), and Carl Woese (1977), whose contributions are exceptional.The five-kingdom grouping suggested by R. H. Whittaker has been accepted by modern-day taxonomy. The cell structure, mode, and source of nutrients and the body structure are the basis of his classification.