A plant's leaves appeared yellow. Which statement is only an observation and not an inference about the cause?

Correct answer: The leaf colour has changed from green to yellow

The direct answer is C: the leaf colour has changed from green to yellow. An observation states only what can be directly seen or measured, without claiming the cause. A visible colour change can be recorded by looking at the leaves, so option C is the observation. Option A, saying that the plant lacks minerals, is an inference about a possible cause; mineral deficiency might be one explanation, but it needs testing. Option B, saying that the plant is diseased, is also an interpretation and cannot be proved merely by seeing yellow leaves. Option C is correct because it reports the visible change without adding an explanation. Option D, saying that the roots have stopped absorbing water, proposes another hidden cause that would need evidence, such as measurements or a controlled investigation. In science, first record the fact, then suggest possible explanations, and finally test those explanations. Memory cue: “what I see” is observation; “why it happened” is inference or hypothesis.