14. A researcher conducted an experiment to investigate the interactions between a certain plant and its environment. The researcher placed the plant in a sealed container, placed the container and the plant next to a light source, and monitored the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases inside the container. At the beginning of each day, the researcher opened the container to allow air to enter the container. The researcher recorded the following observations. 1. The plant needed to be watered daily. 2. The mass of the soil did not change over two months. 3. The amount of carbon dioxide decreased daily. 4. The amount of oxygen increased daily. Which of the following statements is best supported by the researcher's observations?
Answer: C
The plant carried out photosynthesis.
The observations gathered by the researcher indicate that the plant is performing photosynthesis, as evidenced by the daily increase in oxygen levels and decrease in carbon dioxide levels inside the sealed container.
A) The plant relied on the soil as a source of food.
This statement is not supported by the observations made during the experiment. The mass of the soil remained unchanged over two months, indicating that the soil was not losing any matter, which suggests that the plant is not extracting nutrients from it in a way that would significantly alter its mass.
B) The plant absorbed more oxygen than it released.
This statement is incorrect because the observations show an increase in oxygen levels, which implies that the plant is producing oxygen, not absorbing more than it releases. In photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, rather than the reverse.
C) The plant carried out photosynthesis.
This statement is best supported by the data collected. The increase in oxygen and decrease in carbon dioxide levels indicate that the plant is converting carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen through the process of photosynthesis, aligning with the observations recorded by the researcher.
D) The plant converted water into carbon dioxide gas.
This statement is incorrect as it contradicts the basic principles of photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen, rather than converting water into carbon dioxide. The observed increase in oxygen levels further supports this.
Conclusion
The correct answer, that the plant carried out photosynthesis, is clearly supported by the increase in oxygen and decrease in carbon dioxide levels. All other options fail to accurately reflect the observations made by the researcher, as they either misinterpret the process of photosynthesis or do not align with the experimental data.