Question

A scientist did an experiment using a chemical inhibitor that stops photosynthesis for a certain type of plant. He grew two plants, giving the chemical to one plant and not to the other. Both plants were given equal amounts of water and sunlight. He then measured the growth of both plants as shown in the table below.

Date Height of
Control Plant
(cm) Height of Plant
Treated With
Chemical Inhibitor
(cm)
June 5 8.3 8.6
June 7 8.7 8.7
June 9 9.2 8.7
June 11 9.6 8.7

Why did the plant that could not photosynthesize stop growing?
A.
It did not have enough food for building materials.
B.
It did not have enough other plants to consume for food.
C.
It did not have enough light to grow.
D.
It did not have enough water to grow.

Answer 1

A. It did not have enough food for building materials.

Photosynthesis makes sugars that provide energy and carbon skeletons the plant uses to build new tissues. The inhibitor stopped that process, so even with water and light available the treated plant couldn't make the food/biomolecules needed for growth.