Question

question 10 of 10
a class uses an aquarium that contains sand, water, snails, and elodea plants to model the cycling of carbon through ecosystems. the students put the aquarium in a location where it receives plenty of natural light. bubbles form near the plant leaves. the snails glide over the sand and eat the plants. over time, the snails and plants grow larger.
why do the snails and plants grow?
a. the plants and snails build larger carbon - based molecules from the sugars the plants produce during photosynthesis.
b. the plants use the sugars they make during photosynthesis to make larger molecules, and the snails digest the sand.
c. the plants and snails break apart water molecules and turn them into larger molecules during cellular respiration.
d. the plants turn nutrients from the water and sand into larger molecules, and the snails use the larger molecules they get from the plants.

Explanation:

Plants perform photosynthesis to produce sugars and other molecules. Snails eat the plants and obtain nutrients. Plants use nutrients from water and sand to grow and make larger molecules. Snails use the larger - molecule nutrients from plants for growth. Option A is correct as plants and snails build larger carbon - based molecules from plant - produced sugars. Option B is wrong as snails don't digest sand. Option C is incorrect as they don't break apart water molecules to make larger molecules in this way. Option D is not the most accurate description as it doesn't emphasize the role of plant - produced sugars as strongly as option A.

Answer:

A. The plants and snails build larger carbon - based molecules from the sugars the plants produce during photosynthesis.