SAT OwlQuestion bank / Central Ideas and Details
Saguaro cacti, which grow in the Sonoran Desert, can store large amounts of water. Their trunks have pleats, like the folds of an accordion, that expand when the plant absorbs water after a rain and shrink as the stored water is used up. Because of this, a large saguaro can survive many months without rainfall.
According to the text, what is the function of the pleats on a saguaro's trunk?
They protect the cactus from animals that try to eat it.
They help the cactus absorb more sunlight.
They produce the cactus's flowers.
They allow the trunk to expand and shrink as the plant's water supply changes.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D
The text says the pleats "expand when the plant absorbs water" and "shrink as the stored water is used up." Choice D restates this function.
Choice A may sound like a reasonable function for a cactus feature, but the text never mentions protection from animals.
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