Import Question JSON

Protists, which are a diverse group of eukaryotic microorganisms, can obtain their food through different means depending on their specific characteristics and adaptations. Some protists are photosynthetic, meaning they are capable of producing their own food through photosynthesis, similar to plants. These photosynthetic protists, also known as autotrophs, typically contain chloroplasts and can use sunlight to synthesize organic molecules for energy. On the other hand, some protists are heterotrophic, meaning they obtain their food by consuming other organisms or organic matter. These heterotrophic protists, also known as consumers, may engulf or absorb food particles, or obtain nutrients from other organisms through various methods such as predation, parasitism, or decomposition. There are also some protists that can obtain their food through chemosynthesis, which is a process where energy is obtained from inorganic compounds instead of sunlight. These chemosynthetic protists can thrive in environments with little or no light, such as deep-sea hydrothermal vents, where they utilize chemical energy to produce organic molecules for their sustenance. Therefore, the correct answer is (4) Both (1) and (3), as protists can obtain their food through photosynthesis (autotrophy) and also by consuming other organisms or organic matter (heterotrophy). Some protists may also utilize chemosynthesis as a means of obtaining food in certain environments.