You are given a science question (easy-level) and four answer options (associated with "A", "B", "C", "D"). Your task is to find the correct answer based on scientific facts, knowledge, and reasoning. Do not generate anything else apart from one of the following characters: 'A', 'B, 'C', 'D'. There is only one correct answer for each question.

Q: Researchers are developing new types of crop plants with desirable characteristics such as disease resistance and drought tolerance. Crossing plants so that the next generation will express desirable traits is best described as  
 (A) selective breeding. (B) natural selection. (C) genetic engineering. (D) gene sequencing.

A: A
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Q: A student plans to grow algal colonies in solutions with different concentrations of liquid fertilizer. Which is a clear and testable hypothesis to guide this investigation?  
 (A) Algae like fertilizer. (B) Fertilizer is good for algae. (C) Fertilizer improves the genetic traits of algae. (D) Algal growth rate increases with fertilizer concentration.

A: D
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Q: The freezing and thawing action of water affects a rock by  
 (A) transforming the rock into igneous rock. (B) chemically changing the rock. (C) gradually breaking down the rock into smaller pieces. (D) leaving behind sedimentary particles from evaporated solutions.

A:
C
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