Observe the figure showing the transportation of water and minerals plants.

a. Identify the vascular tissues as indicated by A and B.

b. Name the processes that help water absorbed by the roots to reach the leaves.

c. In some plants, the rate of transpiration is very high. Does it affect the availability of water in that locality? Why?

a. A – Xylem

B – Phloem

b. There are four processes that help the water to reach the tip of leaves from roots. They are :

1. Transpiration: the loss of water from leaves by evaporation.

2. Cohesion: the attractive force between water molecules

3. Adhesion: the capacity of water molecules to stick to the walls of cells

4. Root pressure: the pressure that develops in the root cells because of the water absorbed in them from the surrounding soil.

c. Yes, the high rates of transpiration of plants, affect the water levels of soil in surrounding areas in a negative way. The water movement in plants, from soil to leaves through the xylem, is a one-way process. The water lost by transpiration is not restored back into the soil as quickly as it is lost. Hence, the water levels of the soil go down and the availability of water in that locality decreases.