CSS Botany MCQs

This comprehensive set of MCQs on Botany for the Central Superior Services (CSS) examination is designed to cover all major topics outlined in the CSS syllabus. Encompassing key areas such as plant anatomy, physiology, classification, ecology, and the role of plants in ecosystems, these MCQs aim to provide aspiring CSS candidates with a solid foundation in plant biology and its practical applications.

Who should practice CSS Botany MCQs?

Candidates preparing for the CSS examination who wish to deepen their knowledge of plant biology, ecology, and the role of plants in environmental sustainability.
Individuals interested in understanding plant structure, growth processes, and classification, essential for civil services roles related to environmental management and agriculture.
University students focused on high-yield topics such as plant physiology, plant genetics, and ecology, which are critical for the CSS Botany syllabus.
Anyone looking to enhance their knowledge of plant science and its contributions to fields like agriculture, forestry, and conservation.
Students committed to mastering botany to excel in competitive exams and pursue careers in research, environmental management, and sustainable agriculture.

1. Which of the following is the primary source of energy for photosynthesis?

A) Oxygen
B) Carbon dioxide
C) Water
D) Sunlight

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2. The process of transpiration primarily occurs in the:

A) Roots
B) Stem
C) Leaves
D) Flowers

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3. The main group of algae that is known for its high economic importance in food production is:

A) Red algae
B) Green algae
C) Brown algae
D) Blue-green algae

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4. The structure responsible for the absorption of water in bryophytes is called:

A) Rhizoid
B) Root
C) Stipe
D) Stolon

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5. Which group of fungi is responsible for the majority of plant diseases?

A) Ascomycetes
B) Zygomycetes
C) Basidiomycetes
D) Deuteromycetes

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6. In which group of plants are spores produced on structures known as sori?

A) Gymnosperms
B) Pteridophytes
C) Angiosperms
D) Bryophytes

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7. The life cycle of pteridophytes alternates between:

A) Two gametophyte generations
B) Two sporophyte generations
C) Gametophyte and sporophyte generations
D) None of the above

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8. The seed structure in gymnosperms develops from:

A) Female gametophyte
B) Male gametophyte
C) Ovule
D) Zygote

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9. Which tissue is responsible for the secondary growth in dicot stems?

A) Parenchyma
B) Xylem
C) Phloem
D) Cambium

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10. The primary function of the phloem in plants is to:

A) Transport water
B) Store nutrients
C) Transport food
D) Provide structural support

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11. Microspores in plants are produced during:

A) Pollination
B) Meiosis
C) Fertilization
D) Germination

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12. Which of the following processes is directly involved in the development of an embryo in plants?

A) Photosynthesis
B) Fertilization
C) Germination
D) Pollination

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13. The main method of plant seed dispersal by wind is known as:

A) Hydrochory
B) Anemochory
C) Zoochory
D) Ballochory

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14. The main function of plant hormones is to:

A) Prevent plant diseases
B) Control plant growth and development
C) Absorb nutrients
D) Produce energy

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15. The type of pollination that occurs without the need for pollinators is called:

A) Cross-pollination
B) Self-pollination
C) Wind-pollination
D) Water-pollination

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16. The first law of thermodynamics states that:

A) Energy can be created or destroyed
B) Energy cannot be created or destroyed
C) Energy is only transformed into heat
D) Energy is always conserved in chemical reactions

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17. Which of the following plant families is known for its economic importance in producing edible fruits?

A) Solanaceae
B) Rosaceae
C) Leguminosae
D) Gramineae

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18. The process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy is called:

A) Respiration
B) Transpiration
C) Photosynthesis
D) Glycolysis

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19. The process of nitrogen fixation in plants is primarily carried out by:

A) Roots
B) Legumes
C) Fungi
D) Algae

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20. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of bryophytes?

A) Vascular tissue
B) Non-vascular
C) Reproduce via spores
D) Require water for fertilization

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21. Which of the following groups of algae is the most important for marine ecosystems?

A) Red algae
B) Green algae
C) Brown algae
D) Diatoms

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22. Gymnosperms primarily differ from angiosperms in that they:

A) Do not have seeds
B) Are non-vascular
C) Have seeds exposed, not enclosed in fruits
D) Are non-flowering plants

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23. What is the main characteristic feature of the class Angiosperms?

A) They produce seeds
B) They are vascular plants
C) They produce flowers and seeds enclosed in fruits
D) They have spore-producing organs

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24. Which of the following plant hormones is responsible for promoting root growth?

A) Auxins
B) Gibberellins
C) Cytokinins
D) Abscisic acid

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25. What is the primary role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis?

A) Absorb sunlight
B) Convert carbon dioxide to oxygen
C) Produce glucose
D) Store energy

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26. The term ‘photosystem’ refers to:

A) The chloroplast structure where light reactions occur
B) The group of proteins and pigments involved in the light reactions of photosynthesis
C) The structure that stores water in plants
D) The organ where photosynthesis happens

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27. The process of converting carbon dioxide into glucose during photosynthesis is known as:

A) The Calvin cycle
B) The Krebs cycle
C) The light reaction
D) The electron transport chain

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28. Which of the following is a common characteristic of gymnosperms?

A) Flowers
B) Seeds in cones
C) Fruit formation
D) Broad leaves

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29. The term ‘xylem’ refers to plant tissue responsible for:

A) Photosynthesis
B) Transport of water and minerals
C) Transport of sugars
D) Reproduction

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30. Which of the following is responsible for the production of male gametes in pteridophytes?

A) Antheridia
B) Archegonia
C) Sporangia
D) Rhizoids

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31. The majority of plant diseases are caused by:

A) Viruses
B) Bacteria
C) Fungi
D) Insects

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32. A plant that can survive both in saltwater and freshwater environments is called a:

A) Xerophyte
B) Hydrophyte
C) Halophyte
D) Mesophyte

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33. The outer layer of a seed, which protects it from desiccation and mechanical injury, is called the:

A) Endosperm
B) Cotyledon
C) Seed coat
D) Embryo

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34. Which of the following plant hormones is responsible for the ripening of fruits?

A) Ethylene
B) Auxin
C) Gibberellin
D) Cytokinin

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35. Which of the following systems is used for plant classification based on evolutionary relationships?

A) Artificial classification
B) Phylogenetic classification
C) Phenetic classification
D) Numerical classification

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36. The process of seed germination starts with the:

A) Expansion of the cotyledons
B) Activation of enzymes
C) Formation of roots
D) Fertilization of the ovule

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37. Which of the following is NOT a factor that affects the rate of photosynthesis?

A) Light intensity
B) Carbon dioxide concentration
C) Temperature
D) Nitrogen content in the soil

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38. The pollen grain in flowering plants is the male:

A) Gametophyte
B) Sporophyte
C) Zygote
D) Ovule

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39. A characteristic feature of monocots is the presence of:

A) Two cotyledons
B) Parallel-veined leaves
C) A taproot system
D) Vascular bundles in a ring

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40. The primary function of stomata in plants is to:

A) Absorb water
B) Exchange gases
C) Transport nutrients
D) Produce energy

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41. The first step in the process of transpiration is:

A) Evaporation of water from leaves
B) Absorption of water by roots
C) Water movement through xylem
D) Water uptake by stomata

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42. Which of the following is a true vascular tissue in plants?

A) Xylem
B) Phloem
C) Both A and B
D) None of the above

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43. The term ‘angiosperm’ refers to:

A) Plants that produce seeds exposed on cones
B) Plants that produce flowers and seeds enclosed in fruits
C) Non-flowering plants that reproduce through spores
D) Plants that do not have seeds

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44. Which of the following structures in plants is responsible for the production of spores?

A) Flowers
B) Cones
C) Sporangium
D) Seeds

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45. The hormone responsible for apical dominance in plants is:

A) Cytokinin
B) Ethylene
C) Auxin
D) Gibberellin

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46. The process by which plants lose water vapor through small pores in their leaves is called:

A) Transpiration
B) Evaporation
C) Photosynthesis
D) Respiration

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47. Which of the following types of plants are known for having vascular tissue but no seeds?

A) Gymnosperms
B) Angiosperms
C) Pteridophytes
D) Bryophytes

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48. The type of root system found in monocots is called:

A) Fibrous root system
B) Tap root system
C) Adventitious root system
D) Lateral root system

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49. Which of the following is the male gametophyte in flowering plants?

A) Ovule
B) Pollen grain
C) Seed
D) Embryo

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50. The green pigment found in chloroplasts is called:

A) Carotenoid
B) Xanthophyll
C) Chlorophyll
D) Phycoerythrin

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51. The vascular tissue responsible for transporting water and nutrients in plants is called:

A) Xylem
B) Phloem
C) Epidermis
D) Parenchyma

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52. Which of the following is the primary function of phloem?

A) Transport of water
B) Transport of food
C) Transport of oxygen
D) Transport of minerals

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53. The development of fruits without fertilization is known as:

A) Apomixis
B) Parthenocarpy
C) Pollination
D) Germination

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54. Which of the following is the female gametophyte in flowering plants?

A) Ovule
B) Pollen grain
C) Seed
D) Anther

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55. Which of the following types of plants does NOT produce seeds?

A) Angiosperms
B) Gymnosperms
C) Pteridophytes
D) Bryophytes

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56. The process in which a seed begins to grow into a new plant is called:

A) Germination
B) Fertilization
C) Pollination
D) Transpiration

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57. Which of the following is NOT a part of the plant’s shoot system?

A) Stem
B) Roots
C) Leaves
D) Flowers

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58. The hormone that promotes cell elongation and is used commercially to ripen fruits is:

A) Cytokinin
B) Gibberellin
C) Ethylene
D) Abscisic acid

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59. Which of the following is a characteristic of dicot plants?

A) Parallel-veined leaves
B) Flowers with three parts
C) Two cotyledons
D) Fibrous root system

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60. The flowering plant family that includes roses, apples, and strawberries is:

A) Solanaceae
B) Rosaceae
C) Leguminosae
D) Liliaceae

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61. The tissue responsible for the transport of water in plants is:

A) Xylem
B) Phloem
C) Cambium
D) Epidermis

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62. In which type of plant does double fertilization occur?

A) Gymnosperms
B) Angiosperms
C) Pteridophytes
D) Bryophytes

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63. Which of the following is an example of a dicot plant?

A) Pine
B) Wheat
C) Sunflower
D) Grass

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64. The ability of a plant to grow toward light is called:

A) Gravitropism
B) Thigmotropism
C) Phototropism
D) Hydrotropism

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65. The process by which plants produce their own food using sunlight is called:

A) Respiration
B) Photosynthesis
C) Transpiration
D) Germination

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66. The seedless vascular plants that produce spores are called:

A) Angiosperms
B) Gymnosperms
C) Pteridophytes
D) Bryophytes

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67. In which group of plants does fertilization occur in the presence of water?

A) Angiosperms
B) Gymnosperms
C) Bryophytes
D) Pteridophytes

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68. What is the process by which a pollen grain is transferred to the stigma of a flower?

A) Fertilization
B) Pollination
C) Germination
D) Transpiration

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69. Which of the following is true about monocots?

A) Two cotyledons
B) Parallel-veined leaves
C) Presence of vascular cambium
D) Tap root system

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70. The process by which plants release oxygen into the atmosphere is known as:

A) Respiration
B) Photosynthesis
C) Transpiration
D) Germination

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71. The reproductive organs of a flower are found in the:

A) Roots
B) Stems
C) Flowers
D) Leaves

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72. Which of the following is the correct order of stages in the life cycle of a typical angiosperm?

A) Germination → Pollination → Fertilization → Seed formation
B) Pollination → Fertilization → Germination → Seed formation
C) Pollination → Germination → Fertilization → Seed formation
D) Germination → Fertilization → Pollination → Seed formation

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73. What is the male reproductive part of a flower called?

A) Pistil
B) Stigma
C) Anther
D) Ovary

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74. The structure that houses the ovules in a flower is called the:

A) Style
B) Stigma
C) Anther
D) Ovary

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75. The plant hormone that is involved in leaf abscission and fruit ripening is:

A) Gibberellin
B) Cytokinin
C) Abscisic acid
D) Ethylene

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76. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of gymnosperms?

A) Produce seeds
B) Produce flowers
C) Have exposed seeds
D) Have cones

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77. The small pores found on the surface of leaves, which allow gas exchange, are called:

A) Stomata
B) Lenticels
C) Xylem
D) Phloem

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78. The movement of water through plants is driven primarily by:

A) Active transport
B) Osmosis
C) Capillary action
D) Cohesion and adhesion

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79. Which part of the plant is responsible for photosynthesis?

A) Root
B) Stem
C) Leaf
D) Flower

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80. Which of the following is true about dicot plants?

A) They have parallel veins in their leaves
B) They have vascular tissue scattered in the stem
C) They have two cotyledons
D) They have fibrous roots

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81. The process by which a plant produces its own food from light energy is called:

A) Respiration
B) Photosynthesis
C) Transpiration
D) Germination

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82. Which of the following is a type of asexual reproduction in plants?

A) Pollination
B) Germination
C) Budding
D) Fertilization

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83. The process by which a plant grows toward gravity is called:

A) Gravitropism
B) Phototropism
C) Thigmotropism
D) Hydrotropism

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84. Which of the following is NOT a function of roots?

A) Anchoring the plant to the soil
B) Absorbing water and minerals
C) Photosynthesis
D) Storing food

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85. Which of the following plant structures is responsible for gas exchange?

A) Chloroplast
B) Stomata
C) Xylem
D) Phloem

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86. The region of rapid cell division in a growing root is called the:

A) Meristem
B) Epidermis
C) Cortex
D) Endodermis

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87. In which part of the plant does the process of transpiration primarily occur?

A) Roots
B) Flowers
C) Stems
D) Leaves

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88. Which of the following types of plants produce flowers as their reproductive organs?

A) Bryophytes
B) Pteridophytes
C) Angiosperms
D) Gymnosperms

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89. Which of the following is the function of the plant’s cambium tissue?

A) Transport water
B) Transport food
C) Facilitate secondary growth
D) Store nutrients

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90. The outer layer of cells in a root is known as the:

A) Epidermis
B) Endodermis
C) Phloem
D) Xylem

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91. Which of the following is a characteristic of monocot plants?

A) Two cotyledons
B) Flowers in multiples of four or five
C) Parallel-veined leaves
D) Vascular tissue in a circle

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92. The process of converting light energy into chemical energy is called:

A) Respiration
B) Photosynthesis
C) Fermentation
D) Germination

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93. Which plant hormone is involved in the inhibition of growth and promoting seed dormancy?

A) Cytokinin
B) Gibberellin
C) Abscisic acid
D) Ethylene

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94. The structure that anchors the plant in the soil and absorbs water and minerals is called the:

A) Stem
B) Leaf
C) Root
D) Flower

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95. The green pigment that captures light energy in photosynthesis is called:

A) Chlorophyll
B) Carotenoid
C) Xanthophyll
D) Phycoerythrin

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96. In which type of plants does fertilization occur without water?

A) Gymnosperms
B) Bryophytes
C) Pteridophytes
D) Angiosperms

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97. The production of new cells in plants occurs primarily in the:

A) Root cap
B) Meristem
C) Leaf
D) Stem

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98. The primary function of the phloem in plants is to transport:

A) Water
B) Oxygen
C) Food
D) Nutrients

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99. The process by which plants release water vapor into the atmosphere is called:

A) Evaporation
B) Transpiration
C) Photosynthesis
D) Respiration

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100. Which of the following is the function of a plant’s flowers?

A) Absorb water
B) Protect the plant
C) Facilitate reproduction
D) Transport nutrients

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