Which term describes an organism that makes its own food?

• A. Heterotroph
• B. Prokaryotic
• C. Autotroph
• D. Eukaryotic

Answer: (C)

Making its own food means the organism can synthesize organic molecules from inorganic materials using energy from light or chemical reactions. This is the defining feature of autotrophs. They build sugars like glucose from carbon dioxide and water, often using sunlight in photosynthesis or chemical energy in chemosynthesis. Plants, algae, and some bacteria are autotrophs. In contrast, prokaryotic and eukaryotic describe cell structure, not how food is obtained, and heterotrophs rely on consuming or absorbing organic matter produced by others. So, the term that best fits an organism that makes its own food is autotroph.