Which statement correctly describes photosynthesis?

• A. It releases energy by breaking down carbohydrates
• B. Plants use chlorophyll to absorb solar energy
• C. It uses respiration to convert carbon dioxide into sugar
• D. It occurs only in animals

Answer: (B)

Photosynthesis uses light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. The best description is that plants use chlorophyll to absorb solar energy, because chlorophyll is the pigment that captures light and starts the energy-driven reactions in the chloroplasts. When light is absorbed, water is split to release oxygen, and energy carriers like ATP and NADPH are produced to power the synthesis of sugar from carbon dioxide in the Calvin cycle. This processBuilds food for plants and releases oxygen, and it occurs in plants (and some algae and bacteria), not in animals. The other statements mix up the process: releasing energy by breaking down carbohydrates describes respiration, not photosynthesis; using respiration to convert carbon dioxide into sugar isn’t correct; and saying it occurs only in animals is false.