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The Life Cycle of a Plant — Reading Comprehension

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RI.3.1
RI.4.4
RI.4.2

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The life cycle of a plant begins with seed germination, followed by growth, leaf development, and photosynthesis. The plant matures, flowers, and produces fruit, containing seeds that are dispersed to new locations, ensuring the continuation of the species.

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Plant Life Cycle

All plants go through a special pattern called a life cycle. This means a plant starts as a tiny seed, grows into a mature plant, and then makes new seeds, keeping the cycle going forever.

Seeds are like little packages. Each seed contains a baby plant (called an embryo), some stored food, and a tough coat to protect it. Seeds can wait for years before starting to grow. They only begin when they have what they need: water, warmth, and oxygen. Some seeds also need light or darkness to start growing.

The first stage of growth is called germination. When the seed gets water, the coat softens. The root pushes down into the soil, and a shoot pushes up toward the light.

Next, the plant becomes a seedling. This young plant grows its first leaves, called cotyledons. It starts making its own food using sunlight.

As it grows, the plant becomes a mature plant. It has stems, leaves, and roots, and it is ready to make new plants.

Many plants produce flowers. Flowers have special parts: stamens (male parts with pollen) and pistils (female parts). Flowers are often colorful or have a sweet smell to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.

During pollination, pollen moves from the stamen to the pistil. This can happen with the help of wind, insects, or even birds. Next comes fertilization, when pollen joins with an egg inside the pistil to make a new seed.

The plant then forms fruit around the seeds. Fruits help protect the seeds and can help them travel. Seed dispersal happens when seeds spread away from the parent plant. Wind can carry dandelion fluff, birds can eat berries and drop seeds, water can float coconuts, and some pods even pop open to throw seeds!

Some plants finish their life cycle in one season (annuals), some in two (biennials), and some live for many years (perennials). A plant’s life cycle is like a relay race—each generation passes the baton (seeds) to the next, keeping the family going forever.

Interesting Fact:
Some lotus seeds can stay alive for over 1,000 years before they finally sprout!

What is the first stage of a plant's life?

SeedFruitFlowerRoot

What do seeds need to start growing?

Water, warmth, oxygenOnly sunlightCold and iceOnly wind

What carries pollen during pollination?

Wind, insects, birdsRocksRootsRain

Why are flowers colorful and fragrant?

To attract pollinatorsTo store waterTo make fruitTo grow roots

What happens after fertilization?

A new seed formsThe plant diesLeaves fall offRoots stop growing

How can seeds travel away from plants?