Read the passage to answer the question.

Question

Have you had the chance to watch a tree grow over a span of several years? Did you notice that the tree grew thicker and taller? Deep in the roots of the tree and high in the growing shoots are meristem cells. Each year, the meristem cells help the tree continue to grow.

Question
As a tree ages, it needs to keep making more xylem and phloem cells to carry water and food.

Which statement explains how this occurs?

Responses

Meristem cells divide and some of the new cells differentiate into xylem and phloem.
Meristem cells divide and some of the new cells differentiate into xylem and phloem.

Xylem and phloem from one part of the plant are transferred to another part.
Xylem and phloem from one part of the plant are transferred to another part.

The existing xylem and phloem divide to make more xylem and phloem.
The existing xylem and phloem divide to make more xylem and phloem.

Cell division is not necessary for a plant to create new xylem and phloem cells.

Answer 1

The correct statement that explains how a tree continues to make more xylem and phloem cells as it ages is:

Meristem cells divide and some of the new cells differentiate into xylem and phloem.