Living Environment Regents Practice Test

Which statement best describes how nutrients enter the root cells of the onion plant?

1. Nutrients move from low concentration in the soil to high concentration in root cells

2. Nutrients move from an area of high concentration in the soil to an area of low concentration in root cells

3. Nutrients are absorbed passively with no concentration gradient

4. Nutrients enter root cells through active transport only

The correct answer is: Nutrients move from an area of high concentration in the soil to an area of low concentration in root cells

The statement that nutrients move from an area of high concentration in the soil to an area of low concentration in root cells accurately describes the process of nutrient uptake through diffusion. In this process, nutrients in the soil, which may be in higher concentration due to the soil's nutrient content, move passively toward the root cells, where the concentration is lower. This movement occurs as the nutrients seek to balance the concentration gradient across the cell membrane. Plants utilize this mechanism to efficiently absorb essential nutrients necessary for growth and development. While active transport can also facilitate the movement of some nutrients against a concentration gradient, the general process described in the chosen answer emphasizes how nutrients naturally move from regions of higher concentration to regions of lower concentration, consistent with the principles of passive transport.