Certain desert plants, called succulents, store water in their thick leaves and stems. During rare rainstorms, they rapidly absorb water through shallow root systems, storing enough to survive months of drought. Some desert succulents can lose up to 90% of their stored water and still recover when rain finally arrives.
Based on the passage, it can be inferred that
organisms can develop specialized features to survive in harsh environments
all desert plants have identical survival strategies
succulents require frequent watering to survive
shallow roots are ineffective for water absorption
Correct Answer: A
Choice A is the best answer. Succulents have specific features suited to desert survival.
- Context clues: Thick leaves and stems for storage; shallow roots for rapid absorption; extreme drought tolerance.
- Meaning: These specialized features are adaptations to the harsh desert environment.
- Verify: Surviving 90% water loss shows remarkable specialization for drought.
💡 Strategy: When organisms have unusual features matching their environment's challenges, infer adaptation.
Choice B is incorrect because the passage describes "certain" plants, implying variety. Choice C is incorrect because they survive "months of drought." Choice D is incorrect because shallow roots enable "rapid absorption" during rare rain.