Question

A student wants to know how genetic and environmental factors affect the growth of plants. The student uses six herb plants, three rosemary and three basil, to perform an investigation. He plants two of each type in pots and plants one of each type in the ground. All six plants are planted on the same day using the same soil and receive the same amount of sunlight. The student lets the plants grow for six months. The plants before and after the investigation are shown.



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Which TWO statements identify the factors that influenced the plants' growth?


The plants that were planted earliest grew larger.


The plants that received more water grew larger.


The plants that received more sunlight grew larger.


The plants with more nutrients in the soil grew larger.


The plants that had more available space grew larger.

Answer 1

Answers:
- The plants with more nutrients in the soil grew larger.
- The plants that had more available space grew larger.

Reason: All plants were planted the same day and given the same sunlight, so those variables were controlled. Plants in the ground had greater root space and access to a larger soil volume (more available nutrients and water over time), allowing them to grow bigger than the ones confined to pots.