Which statement about herbicides is correct?

Which statement about herbicides is correct?

• A. Substances that promote plant growth
• B. Substances that are phytotoxic to plants
• C. Substances that control animal pests
• D. Substances that neutralize weeds chemically

Answer: (B)

Herbicides are chemicals used to control unwanted plants by harming their tissues; they are meant to be toxic to plants. The term phytotoxic describes exactly that effect—injury or death to plant life. So the statement that herbicides are phytotoxic to plants is the best description. The other ideas don’t fit: substances that promote plant growth are fertilizers or growth regulators, not herbicides. Substances that control animal pests are insecticides or similar pesticides, not herbicides. And while herbicides do affect weeds chemically, saying they “neutralize” weeds is vague and imprecise—the core action is to kill or inhibit the plants, not simply neutralize them.

Herbicides are chemicals used to control unwanted plants by harming their tissues; they are meant to be toxic to plants. The term phytotoxic describes exactly that effect—injury or death to plant life. So the statement that herbicides are phytotoxic to plants is the best description.

The other ideas don’t fit: substances that promote plant growth are fertilizers or growth regulators, not herbicides. Substances that control animal pests are insecticides or similar pesticides, not herbicides. And while herbicides do affect weeds chemically, saying they “neutralize” weeds is vague and imprecise—the core action is to kill or inhibit the plants, not simply neutralize them.