Question

read the passage and then answer the question.

the ability to transform light energy into chemical fuel is typically associated with plants and algae. however, in rare cases, animals show this ability, too. several species of sacoglossan sea slugs, for instance, can co - opt the photosynthetic ability of the algae they feed on. the slugs accomplish this by retaining rather than digesting the algae’s chloroplasts, the cell parts primarily responsible for photosynthesis. the chloroplasts continue to photosynthesize even after they are assimilated, a curious phenomenon that forces us to reconsider our assumptions about what animals are capable of.

perhaps even more impressive is the oriental hornet. in 2010, researchers discovered that this hornet’s yellow stripe contains a certain pigment that transforms light into electrical energy. this could explain why oriental hornets are more active in the middle of the day, when sunlight is the most intense, even though most other hornets are more industrious in the early morning.

like the rest of the animal kingdom, the oriental hornet and sacoglossan sea slug obtain energy from eating. yet they seem to be anomalous in their exceptional ability to use sunlight to create energy. science is still in the early stages of understanding these so - called “solar - powered” animals.

what is the meaning of assimilated as used in the passage?

broken down

made similar

produced

integrated

Explanation:

The passage states that sea slugs retain (keep) the algae's chloroplasts instead of digesting them. The chloroplasts continue to photosynthesize even after they are "assimilated". The context suggests that the chloroplasts are incorporated or integrated into the sea slug's system. "Broken down" (digested) is the opposite of what the passage says (they are not digested). "Made similar" and "produced" do not fit the context of the chloroplasts being part of the sea slug's system after being taken in.

Answer:

integrated