What is meant by the term photosynthesis?

• A. The breakdown of food by plants
• B. The intake of sunlight by animals
• C. The release of oxygen by animals
• D. The process by which plants make their own food

Answer: (D)

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars, mainly glucose, which the plant can use as food. Chlorophyll in the chloroplasts captures light and drives chemical reactions that build carbohydrates, with oxygen released as a byproduct. This ability to synthesize their own food fuels plant growth and forms the base of most food chains. The other options don’t fit because photosynthesis isn’t about breaking down food, nor is it something animals do by simply taking in sunlight, and it isn’t about animals releasing oxygen.