Question

Read the following statements regarding plant growth:
A. Plant growth is generally indeterminate.
B. Meristems are responsible for plant growth.
C. Growth occurs only due to cell enlargement.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. Only A and B are correct
• B. Only B and C are correct
• C. Only A and C are correct
• D. A, B and C are correct Correct Answer: (A) Only A and B are correct

Hint:

Be on high alert for absolute qualifiers like "only", "always", or "never" in biological statements! Growth is a multifaceted process requiring cell division to provide the raw numbers, and cell enlargement to provide the physical volume. One cannot function without the other!

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Check statement A.
Plant growth is usually indeterminate. Plants keep growing all their life because they always have some young dividing tissue. So A is true.

Step 2: Check statement B.
Meristems are small groups of cells that keep dividing. These cells add new cells to the plant and make it grow. So B is also true.

Step 3: Check statement C.
It says growth happens only by cell enlargement. This is wrong. Growth needs cell division first to make new cells, then enlargement, then maturation. The word only makes C false.

Step 4: Pick the right option.
Only A and B are true, so the answer is option 1.
\[ \boxed{\text{Only A and B are correct}} \]