Q
QuestionBiology

Approximately two-thirds of the mass of a cell is water, and the water maintains the cell's integrity. What would happen to a plant cell during a period of severe drought? A. The drought would have no effect on the plant cell. B. The cell would expand, leading to an increase in growth. C. The cell would increase its capacity to do photosynthesis. D. The cell would eventually shrink, causing the plant to wilt.
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Answer

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Step 1:
: Understand the problem

The question asks about the effect of a severe drought on a plant cell. We are given information about the proportion of water in a cell and its role in maintaining the cell's integrity.

Step 2:
: Analyze the given information

Approximately two-thirds of a cell's mass is water, which is crucial for maintaining the cell's structure and integrity. During a drought, there is limited water availability, which affects the water content in the cell.

Step 3:
: Predict the cell's response to drought

When water is limited during a drought, the plant cell will lose water due to processes like transpiration. As the water content in the cell decreases, the cell will shrink to maintain its structural integrity.

Step 4:
: Compare the prediction with the answer choices

The cell shrinking during a drought matches answer choice D: "The cell would eventually shrink, causing the plant to wilt."

Final Answer

The correct answer is D: The cell would eventually shrink, causing the plant to wilt.