Why do plants provide animals with fruits such as strawberries?

• A. To attract animals that will help disperse their seeds to new locations.
• B. To protect their leaves from being eaten by herbivores.
• C. To increase the rate of photosynthesis in their own tissues.
• D. To provide animals with a source of water during dry seasons.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the purpose of fruits in plants: Fruits are structures that develop from the ovary of a flower after fertilization. Their primary biological function is to aid in seed dispersal.
2. Recognize the relationship between plants and animals: Many plants rely on animals to help disperse their seeds. By providing a nutritious and appealing fruit, plants attract animals to consume the fruit and later deposit the seeds in new locations through their waste.
3. Eliminate incorrect options: Protecting leaves from herbivores is not a function of fruits, as fruits are not directly involved in leaf protection. Similarly, fruits do not increase the rate of photosynthesis, as photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts within green tissues like leaves, not in fruits.
4. Evaluate the option about water provision: While fruits may contain water, their primary role is not to provide animals with water during dry seasons. This is a secondary benefit, not the main evolutionary purpose.
5. Select the correct answer: The primary reason plants provide animals with fruits, such as strawberries, is to attract animals that will help disperse their seeds to new locations, ensuring the continuation of the plant species.