(a) Besides minimising the loss of blood, why is it essential to plug any leak in a blood vessel? Name the component of blood which helps in this process and state how this component perform this function. OR (b) (i) The transport system in plants is relatively slower than in animals. Give reasons. (ii) State the role of phloem in the transport of materials in plants.

(a) It is essential to plug any leak in a blood vessel to prevent the loss of blood and to maintain blood pressure. The component of blood that helps in this process is platelets. Platelets release chemicals that attract other platelets and help in the formation of a platelet plug, thereby sealing the leak in the blood vessel. OR (b) (i) The transport system in plants is relatively slower than in animals because plants do not have a circulatory system like animals do. Plants transport materials through diffusion, osmosis, and active transport, which are slower processes. (ii) Phloem plays a crucial role in the transport of materials in plants. It transports food, such as glucose and amino acids, produced by photosynthesis from the leaves to the rest of the plant body, including the roots, stems, and other parts.