Question

read the passage to answer the question
have you had the chance to watch a tree grow
over a span of several years? did you notice that
the tree grew thicker and taller? deep in the roots
of the tree and high in the growing shoots are
meristem cells. each year, the meristem cells help
the tree continue to grow.
as a tree ages, it needs to keep making more xylem
and phloem cells to carry water and food.
which statement explains how this occurs?
meristem cells divide and some of the
new cells differentiate into xylem and
phloem
the existing xylem and phloem divide to
make more xylem and phloem
cell division is not necessary for a plant
to create new xylem and phloem cells
xylem and phloem from one part of the
plant are transferred to another part

Explanation:

Meristem cells are undifferentiated cells in plants. They divide continuously. When they divide, some of the new cells differentiate (specialize) into different types of cells like xylem (for water transport) and phloem (for food transport). Existing xylem and phloem are already differentiated and do not divide to form more of themselves. Cell division is necessary for creating new xylem and phloem cells. Transferring xylem and phloem from one part of the plant to another is not how new xylem and phloem are made - new cells are formed through meristem cell division and differentiation.

Answer:

Meristem cells divide and some of the new cells differentiate into xylem and phloem.