Which statement about fungi is true?

• A. Molds are multicellular and yeasts are single-celled.
• B. Molds are single-celled and yeasts are multicellular.
• C. They are never found in soil or dust.
• D. They do not reproduce by spores.

Answer: (A)

Fungi come in two main growth forms: filamentous networks of hyphae that make up a multicellular mold, and single-celled organisms that reproduce as yeasts. This is why the statement that molds are multicellular and yeasts are single-celled is correct. Molds grow as hyphae that intertwine into a visible mycelium, forming a multicellular structure. Yeasts, on the other hand, exist as individual cells and typically reproduce by budding or fission, staying unicellular in most conditions.

Fungi also commonly reproduce by spores, which are units that can disperse through air or water and give rise to new fungal growth. While yeasts can form spores in some life cycles, their primary growth form remains a single cell, whereas molds are characteristically multicellular. The other statements conflict with these basic facts: molds aren’t just single-celled, yeasts aren’t typically multicellular, fungi are frequently found in soil and dust, and they commonly reproduce by spores.