Free levelled English reading practice. Read for meaning first, then use the full Speed Reading tool to time yourself and track your progress.
Plants need energy to grow, repair tissues and produce new cells. Through photosynthesis, they capture light energy and store it in chemical form. Most photosynthesis occurs in leaves, inside structures called chloroplasts. These contain chlorophyll, a pigment that absorbs light. Plants take in carbon dioxide from the air through tiny openings in their leaves and absorb water through their roots. Using light energy, they combine carbon dioxide and water to produce sugars. Oxygen is released as a by-product. The process is essential not only for plants but for most life on Earth. Plants and algae form the base of many food chains, and the oxygen produced by photosynthesis supports organisms that breathe it. Photosynthesis also removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Scientists study the process to understand ecosystems, agriculture and the global carbon cycle, and to explore ways of improving crop productivity.
