Why are leaves green during the growing season?
During the growing season, leaves are green because they contain chlorophyll, a pigment that absorbs sunlight for photosynthesis. Leaves also contain yellow and orange pigments called carotenoids, but the abundant chlorophyll hides them. As days become shorter and temperatures fall in autumn, trees stop producing chlorophyll and the existing supply breaks down. The yellow and orange pigments then become visible. The red and purple colors seen in some leaves come from anthocyanins, which are made in autumn from sugars trapped in the leaf. The brightness of the display depends on the weather: sunny days and cool nights in autumn produce the most vivid reds, whereas a warm, wet autumn tends to produce duller colors.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. They contain a large amount of chlorophyll
- Step 1: The passage says leaves are green because of chlorophyll. Step 2. The abundant chlorophyll hides other pigments. Answer: they contain a large amount of chlorophyll. Why not the others: these do not make leaves green.
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