Question

Which of the following has the strongest stem?
(a) A tree stem
(b) A creeper
(c) A climber
(d) A bush

Answer 1

Hint: Plants are the living multicellular body that makes their own food by the process of photosynthesis. Plants are divided into herbs, shrubs and trees on the basis of their size. The branch of science that deals with the study of plants is called botany. Roots, leaves, stems, branches and flowers are the different parts of the plant.

Complete answer
The stems of the plant bear different parts of the plant except the root. It bears the branches, leaves, fruits and flowers. It performs various important functions. It helps in the conduction of water and minerals to different parts of the plant. It also helps in the transport of photosynthates from leaves to other parts.
Some stems perform other functions such as support, food storage, protection etc. by modifying them. Creepers, climbers and thorns are examples of stem modifications.
A tree is a plant which has a woody stem that can grow upto the height of 45meters. It is perennial. The stem of the tree is very hard that protects it from wearing and tearing. The bark of the tree provides strength to the tree.
Creepers are the plants that do not grow much. They spread over the ground due to weak stems. They do not have strong structures that can hold the branches. Thus, branches are absent in creepers.
In climbers, strong woody stems are absent. They are called climbers because they climb over some support such as other plants or objects. Tendrils of the climbers help them in climbing. Similarly, a bush also has a weak stem.

Thus the answer of the above question is option (A) a tree stem. This is because the outer part of the tree consists of the bark whose outer layer has dead cells. These dead cells make the tree stem hard and strong.

Note: The trees get their food by the process of photosynthesis in which they use sunlight and water and convert it into glucose. Oxygen is released in this process. This is essential for the survival of all living beings. They play an important role in ecological balance by providing shelter to the large number of organisms. The roots of the trees prevent soil erosion. We use wood and timber from trees for construction purposes.