Question

all organisms on earth, from the smallest bacterium to the largest blue whale, need water to survive. desert plants and animals have developed special adaptations for getting and holding on to water. without these adaptations, they would not be able to survive in the dry desert.
cacti are the primary plants of the desert. they have long, sprawling, shallow roots that can soak up the maximum amount of water from the ground. they can store plenty of water in their rubbery stems. they dont have leaves, which can lose a lot of moisture. cacti also have sharp spines meant to stop animals from taking their water.
according to the passage, how have cactus roots adapted to the deserts dry environment?
choose one option
a they are sharp and poke animals who try to dig them up.
b they are very short because there isnt much water for them to soak up.
c their rubbery texture helps them find the most water in the soil.
d they are shallow and extend widely to help them absorb water.

Explanation:

The passage states that cacti have "long, sprawling, shallow roots that can soak up the maximum amount of water from the ground." Option D matches this description as "shallow and extend widely" is similar to "long, sprawling, shallow". Option A is about spines (not roots). Option B is incorrect as roots are described as long (not short). Option C mentions rubbery texture which is for stems (not roots).

Answer:

D. They are shallow and extend widely to help them absorb water.