Question

Passive absorption of water takes place by:
(a)Osmosis
(b)The presence of energy
(c)Root pressure
(d)Transpiration pull

Answer 1

Hint: Absorption of water is a vital process which is very important for the growth of plants and other metabolic activities. In lower plants, the absorption of water is by the process of osmosis through the whole plant body whereas in higher plants this absorption is through root hairs.

Complete answer:
There are two types of water absorption that occur in plants namely:- Active absorption and Passive absorption.
Passive absorption of water does not require the use of metabolic energy. The absorption occurs by metabolic activity like transpiration.
Passive absorption is the type where the absorption happens through the transpiration pull. The transpiration pull creates tension (force) which helps in the upward movement of water into the xylem sap. The higher the transpiration rate, the higher will be the absorption of water.

Additional Information:
-The other type of water absorption in plants is Active absorption.
-Active absorption of water requires the expenditure of energy by the root cells to perform a metabolic activity like respiration.
-It happens in two ways namely:- Osmotic absorption and Non-osmotic absorption.
-Osmotic absorption is the absorption of water from the soil into the xylem of the roots according to the osmotic gradient.
-Non-osmotic absorption is the absorption of water against the concentration gradient.

So, the correct answer is ‘Transpiration pull’.

Note: Active absorption of water takes place by the root pressure and it requires energy as it is against the concentration gradient. Passive absorption of water takes place by transpiration pull and it does not require energy.