Here is the full question:
Bitter cassava is often preferred as a crop over sweet cassava because it produces higher yields (more pounds of cassava per hectare planted) in the presence of herbivores. Which of the statements poses a hypothetical relationship?
a. Plants produce chemicals to deter herbivores. Bitter cassava stores toxic compounds in its tissues. Bitter cassava should incur less damage, and therefore have higher yields.
b. Plants produce chemicals to deter herbivores. Bitter cassava stores toxic compounds in its roots. Because they are below ground, the roots are not eaten and the presence of toxic compounds does not contribute to higher yields.
c. Plants produce chemicals to deter herbivores. Bitter cassava expends energy on producing toxic compounds. The more toxic compounds a plant produces, the lower its yields.
d. Plants produce chemicals to deter herbivores. Bitter cassava requires additional nitrogen to make these compounds. The additional nitrogen that is used reduces the amount of nitrogen available for plant growth, and decreases yields.
Answer:
a. Plants produce chemicals to deter herbivores. Bitter cassava stores toxic compounds in its tissues. Bitter cassava should incur less damage, and therefore have higher yields.
Explanation:
Hypothetical relationship refers to an imaginary situation that signify a relationship between an object/subject with another object/subject. This hypothetical relationship tend to be unproven/not yet backed by scientific evidence.
Pay attention to the wording in option A
. . . .stores toxic compounds in its tissues. Bitter cassava<em><u> should</u></em> incur less damage . . .
That word indicates that the one who made the statement only assume that the cassava will receive less damage from the interaction. This can be used as an example of a hypothetical relationship.
