Which term describes organisms that synthesize their own food using light?

• A. Autotrophic
• B. Heterotrophic
• C. Unicellular
• D. Multicellular

Answer: (A)

Autotrophs are organisms that synthesize their own food using light. They capture light energy and drive the production of organic molecules from inorganic carbon, a process we call photosynthesis. This makes them the producers in ecosystems, with examples like plants, algae, and certain bacteria.

So, the term describes those that can make their own food from light energy. The other terms don’t fit as neatly: heterotrophs must obtain energy by consuming or breaking down others’ organic matter, not by making it themselves. Unicellular and multicellular describe how many cells an organism has, not how it obtains energy, and many autotrophs can be either.