Most fungi are _____.

• A. chemosynthetic
• B. heterotrophic
• C. photosynthetic
• D. autotrophic

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the key terms in the question: 'chemosynthetic,' 'heterotrophic,' 'photosynthetic,' and 'autotrophic.' These terms describe how organisms obtain energy and nutrients.
2. Recall that fungi are organisms that cannot produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. They rely on external organic matter for energy and nutrients.
3. Learn the definition of 'heterotrophic': Heterotrophic organisms obtain their energy by consuming organic compounds produced by other organisms. Fungi are heterotrophic because they absorb nutrients from decomposing organic matter or living hosts.
4. Contrast 'heterotrophic' with the other options: 'Photosynthetic' refers to organisms that use sunlight to produce food (e.g., plants), 'autotrophic' refers to organisms that produce their own food (e.g., plants and some bacteria), and 'chemosynthetic' refers to organisms that use chemical reactions to produce food (e.g., certain bacteria). Fungi do not fit into these categories.
5. Conclude that fungi are heterotrophic because they depend on external organic sources for their energy and nutrients, rather than producing their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.