Why Do Leaves Exhibit a High Surface Area/volume Ratio

Question

Why do leaves exhibit a high surface area/volume ratio?
A) to increase the size of mesophyll cells to subsequently increase the rate of photosynthesis
B) to increase the amount of shade on the plant body to reduce transpiration
C) to increase the amount of nitrogen absorbed by the plant
D) to increase the amount of photon absorption
E) to increase the amount of water absorbed by the leaves

Accepted Answer

Leaves exhibit a high surface area/volume ratio to increase the amount of photon absorption for photosynthesis. The high surface area of the leaves promotes contact of light with the leaf surfaces, while the thin structure allows for efficient diffusion of gases required for photosynthesis.