Which statement best describes photosynthesis?

• A. Plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen.
• B. Plants absorb oxygen to fuel growth.
• C. Plants convert glucose into energy without sunlight.
• D. Plants rely on animals to provide energy.

Answer: (A)

Photosynthesis is how plants turn light energy into chemical energy by building sugars from carbon dioxide and water, with oxygen released as a byproduct. The statement that uses sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen is the best fit because it names the essential inputs (light, water, CO2) and the main outputs (glucose and oxygen) of the process. In the plant’s chloroplasts, light energy drives reactions that split water and fix carbon dioxide into glucose, while oxygen is released into the air. This captures why sunlight is essential and how carbon and hydrogen from CO2 and H2O become stored in glucose. Other descriptions miss key ideas: plants don’t rely on absorbing oxygen to grow, glucose isn’t produced without light, and energy for plants ultimately comes from capturing sunlight rather than from animals.