[Campbell Biology P.694] According to the text provided, which of the following statements a... | Practice Question

According to the text provided, which of the following statements about fruits is TRUE?

  • A: All fleshy fruits have soft outer and inner layers of pericarp when ripe.
  • B: Seeds are exclusively dispersed through the consumption of fleshy fruits by animals.
  • C: Cereal grains, such as maize, rice, and wheat, are each botanically considered a fruit.
  • D: All dry fruits split open at maturity to release their seeds.

Explanation

The text explicitly states: 'The cereal grains of maize, rice, wheat, and other grasses, though easily mistaken for seeds, are each actually a fruit with a dry outer covering the former wall of the ovary that adheres to the seed coat of the seed within.' This confirms that cereal grains are botanically considered fruits.