A gardener wants to test two different types of grass in his backyard. The two types are rye grass and Zoysia grass. The gardener divides his yard into two equal sections and plants rye grass on one side and Zoysia grass on the other. Both types of grass receive equal amounts of water and sunlight. Over several months, the gardener notices that he has to mow the rye grass more often than he has to mow the Zoysia grass because the rye grass grows at a faster rate.

Question

Based on this information, which of the following conclusions can be drawn about the growth rate of grass?
A.
The growth rate of grass is affected by the genes of the grass.
B.
The growth rate of grass is controlled completely by the environment.
C.
The growth rate of grass remains constant despite environmental conditions.
D.
The growth rate of grass is random and cannot be predicted.

Answer 1

Based on the information provided, the best conclusion that can be drawn about the growth rate of the grass is:

A. The growth rate of grass is affected by the genes of the grass.

This conclusion is supported by the observation that rye grass grows faster than Zoysia grass despite both receiving equal water and sunlight, indicating a genetic difference in their growth rates. The other options either overemphasize environmental control (B), suggest consistency regardless of conditions (C), or imply total unpredictability (D), which are not supported by the data provided.