Question

One of the effects of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans in 2005, was

the death of almost all of the plants in flooded areas. Initially, toxic chemicals and bacteria
were suspected as a possible cause. Scientists later determined that the salt concentration
in the floodwater caused the plants to die.
-- The death of the plants was most likely due to
(1) water moving into plant cells from the surrounding environment
(2) water moving out of plant cells into the surrounding environment
(3) both water and salt moving from plant cells into the surrounding environment
(4) both water and salt moving into plant cells from the surrounding environment

Answer 1

(2) water moving out of plant cells into the surrounding environment. Due to osmosis, the plant cells lose water to the surrounding environment which is more concentrated as a way of adaptation. They eventually lose too much water and die.