The process by which autotrophs use energy from sunlight to produce high-energy carbohydrates is known as?

• A. Respiration
• B. Fermentation
• C. Photosynthesis
• D. Glycolysis

Answer: (C)

This question tests how organisms capture light energy to build sugars. Photosynthesis uses sunlight captured by pigments like chlorophyll to drive the synthesis of carbohydrates, such as glucose, from carbon dioxide and water. In the light-dependent reactions, light energy is converted into chemical energy (ATP and NADPH) and water is split to release oxygen. The Calvin cycle then uses that energy to fix CO2 into sugars. Autotrophs rely on this process to store energy in high-energy carbohydrates, which they can later break down for growth and metabolism.

Other options describe ways cells obtain energy from existing nutrients rather than creating sugars from light. Respiration releases energy by breaking down organic molecules; fermentation allows ATP production without oxygen but does not build sugars; glycolysis is the initial step of respiration that converts glucose to pyruvate and yields a small amount of ATP, not the creation of carbohydrates from light.