Question

why are chloroplasts essential to the survival of many animals as well as plants?

• photosynthesis generates protein building blocks essential to animal functioning that cannot be acquired by animals in any other way.
• chloroplasts allow both animals and plants to break down organic molecules and use the energy stored in the molecules.
• animals do not have chloroplasts and must depend on organisms that can photosynthesize the energy they need.
• many animals can only produce their own energy after they have consumed sufficient photosynthetic chloroplasts.
• chloroplasts are rich in fats and lipids that are generated by photosynthesis satisfying the energy requirements of many animals.

Explanation:

Chloroplasts are organelles in plants/algae that perform photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical energy (glucose). Animals lack chloroplasts, so they rely on eating photosynthetic organisms (or other animals that eat them) to obtain energy. Option A is wrong because animals can get protein building blocks from food; B is wrong because breaking down organic molecules is cellular respiration (mitochondria); D is wrong because animals don’t produce energy via consumed chloroplasts; E is wrong because chloroplasts aren’t a direct source of fats/lipids for animals—they rely on the organic molecules from photosynthetic organisms.

Answer:

C. Animals do not have chloroplasts and must depend on organisms that can photosynthesize the energy they need.