Chapter 23, Problem 1SQ

Summary Introduction

Concept introduction:  The organisms that cannot prepare their own food and depend on other group of living creatures or dead matter are called heterotrophs. A fungus is a eukaryotic heterotroph that can extract the energy stored in the bonds of organic compounds, such as carbohydrate and protein from living or dead organisms.

Answer to Problem 1SQ

Correct answer: All fungi are heterotrophs. Therefore, option c. is the correct answer.

Explanation of Solution

Reason for the correct answer:

A fungus is a spore-forming eukaryotic organism that depends on other living or dead matters for food. It has no chlorophyll, and hence photosynthesis cannot take place; instead, they have the ability to break down all sorts of organic matters like dead leaves, dead wood, and dead animals.

Option c. is given as “are heterotrophs”. Since heterotrophs are a group of organisms that cannot produce their own food, instead depend on others, option c. is the correct answer.

Reasons for the incorrect answers:

Option a. is given as “are multicelled”. There are several fungi like yeast that exists as a single-celled organism, while the other groups like mushrooms are multicelled. Therefore, it cannot be said that all fungal groups are multicelled. So, option a. is a incorrect answer.

Option b. is given as “form flagellated spores”. All fungal groups will never produce flagellated spore, rather there are many groups that produce non-flagellated spores too. So, option b. is an incorrect answer.

Option d. is given as “all of the above”. Since option a. and option b. are the incorrect answers. So, option d. is an incorrect answer.

Hence, options a., b., and d. are incorrect answers.

Conclusion

Fungus are a group of organisms that cannot produce food by themselves, rather they depend on other living and dead matters for food.