Alabama OTPC ACTUAL Exam Questions and VERIFIED
Answers (Latest 2026)
Five mains groups of pests.
1. Insects
2. Snails and slugs
3. Vertebrates
4. Plant disease agents
5. Weeds
Pest
ANS; living things that compete with human beings for food, fiber, and space or
attach humans directly
Hosts
ANS; living plants or animals some pests depend on for survival
Name two identifying characteristics common to all adult insects
ANS;
Six jointed legs
Three body regions
Two characteristics which aid in distinguishing one insect from another
ANS;
Wings
Mouthparts
Explain the differences between the basic life cycles of insects
ANS;
Some change only in size as they develop
Some change form slightly
Some change completely in form and size
1|Page
,Gradual Life Cycle
ANS;
Eggs - Nymph - Adult
Also referred to "Simple"
Complete Life Cycle
Egg - Larva - Pupa - Adult
Three characteristics of mites, ticks and spiders
ANS;
Eight jointed legs
Two body regions
Lack wings
List four types of vertebrate animals that can be pests
ANS;
Fish
Reptiles
Amphibians
Birds
List types of living organisms that cause plant diseases
Fungi
Bacteria
Viruses
Nematodes
List three main ways a plant responds to infection by a plant disease agent
Overdevelopment of tissue
Underdevelopment of tissue
2|Page
, Death of tissue
Define weeds
Weeds are plants growing where thay are not wanted or in a way that is not
desireable
Characteristics of herbaceous grasses
One leaf as the emerge
Leaves narrow and upright; veins parallel
Fibrous root system
Growing point sheathed and under soil surface
Growing point gradually moves above soil as plant matures
Chracteristics of herbaceous broadleaves
Two leaves as they emerge
Leaves broad with net-like veins
Exposed growing points at end of each stem
Perennial broadleaved plant may have growing points on roots and stems below
soil
Chracteristics of woody plants
brush and shrubs having several stems and less that 10 feet tall
Trees - single stem and greater than 10 feet tall
Annuals
complete life cycle in less than 12 months
Explain the developmental stages of plants
Seedkubg - small with seed leaves present
Vegetative rapid growth of stems, roots, and foliage. Water and nutrient uptake
rapid
Seed production - little or no growth; produces fruit. Water and nutrient uptake and
movement slow and directed to reproductive parts
3|Page
Answers (Latest 2026)
Five mains groups of pests.
1. Insects
2. Snails and slugs
3. Vertebrates
4. Plant disease agents
5. Weeds
Pest
ANS; living things that compete with human beings for food, fiber, and space or
attach humans directly
Hosts
ANS; living plants or animals some pests depend on for survival
Name two identifying characteristics common to all adult insects
ANS;
Six jointed legs
Three body regions
Two characteristics which aid in distinguishing one insect from another
ANS;
Wings
Mouthparts
Explain the differences between the basic life cycles of insects
ANS;
Some change only in size as they develop
Some change form slightly
Some change completely in form and size
1|Page
,Gradual Life Cycle
ANS;
Eggs - Nymph - Adult
Also referred to "Simple"
Complete Life Cycle
Egg - Larva - Pupa - Adult
Three characteristics of mites, ticks and spiders
ANS;
Eight jointed legs
Two body regions
Lack wings
List four types of vertebrate animals that can be pests
ANS;
Fish
Reptiles
Amphibians
Birds
List types of living organisms that cause plant diseases
Fungi
Bacteria
Viruses
Nematodes
List three main ways a plant responds to infection by a plant disease agent
Overdevelopment of tissue
Underdevelopment of tissue
2|Page
, Death of tissue
Define weeds
Weeds are plants growing where thay are not wanted or in a way that is not
desireable
Characteristics of herbaceous grasses
One leaf as the emerge
Leaves narrow and upright; veins parallel
Fibrous root system
Growing point sheathed and under soil surface
Growing point gradually moves above soil as plant matures
Chracteristics of herbaceous broadleaves
Two leaves as they emerge
Leaves broad with net-like veins
Exposed growing points at end of each stem
Perennial broadleaved plant may have growing points on roots and stems below
soil
Chracteristics of woody plants
brush and shrubs having several stems and less that 10 feet tall
Trees - single stem and greater than 10 feet tall
Annuals
complete life cycle in less than 12 months
Explain the developmental stages of plants
Seedkubg - small with seed leaves present
Vegetative rapid growth of stems, roots, and foliage. Water and nutrient uptake
rapid
Seed production - little or no growth; produces fruit. Water and nutrient uptake and
movement slow and directed to reproductive parts
3|Page
