OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

What is the primary function of root hair cells?

1. Photosynthesis in the roots

2. Water and nutrient absorption

3. Storage of energy in the roots

4. Transport of signals to the leaves

The correct answer is: Water and nutrient absorption

The primary function of root hair cells is water and nutrient absorption, which is essential for the plant's growth and metabolism. Root hair cells have a large surface area, allowing them to efficiently take up water from the soil through osmosis. This cell type also absorbs essential minerals and nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, that the plant needs to thrive. These nutrients are crucial for various physiological processes, including growth, energy production, and the synthesis of important biomolecules. The other options do not align with the main role of root hair cells. While photosynthesis occurs in green parts of the plant, such as leaves, root hair cells do not participate in this process as they lack chloroplasts. Root hair cells are not primarily designed for energy storage, as that function is typically carried out by other tissues in the plant, such as parenchyma cells. Lastly, while signaling between different parts of the plant occurs, root hair cells are not responsible for transporting these signals to the leaves; that role falls to specialized tissues in the plant. Hence, the primary function of root hair cells is fundamentally linked to their role in water and nutrient absorption.