In which way are fungi more like animals than plants?

• A. They have cell walls made primarily of cellulose.
• B. They are primarily autotrophs that produce their own food using chloroplasts.
• C. They are heterotrophs that obtain carbon from organic compounds rather than by photosynthesis.
• D. They store their primary energy reserve as starch.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the key characteristics that differentiate fungi, plants, and animals, focusing on nutrition and cellular composition.
2. Recall that plants are autotrophs, meaning they produce their own food through photosynthesis using chloroplasts, and store energy primarily as starch.
3. Recognize that fungi, unlike plants, do not perform photosynthesis and instead obtain nutrients by absorbing organic compounds from their environment, making them heterotrophs.
4. Note that animals are also heterotrophs, obtaining carbon and energy from organic compounds, which aligns fungi more closely with animals in terms of nutrition.
5. Conclude that the similarity between fungi and animals lies in their heterotrophic mode of nutrition, distinguishing them from plants that are autotrophic.