The process of osmosis is the movement of water through a selectively permeable membrane from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
If 1% sugar solution is placed in pure water, then there would be a higher concentration of water molecules outside the cell compared to inside the cell. The solution outside the cell would be hypo-tonic (containing fewer solute molecules than inside the cell). Water will move into the cell by inward osmosis and the cell would then swell.
Protects the plant from losing water. The sharp needles of the tree mean that is has less surface area for the sun to make contact. They may also have differently shaped stomata, in order to prevent water loss
If there's options, I assume mutation?