The following are examples of a true fruit, except

Analyze the question: You are asked to find the one option that is NOT a true fruit.

Concept:

• A true fruit develops only from the ovary of a flower after fertilization. Examples are mango, orange, oil palm, tomato and pawpaw.
• A false fruit (pseudocarp) includes other floral parts, such as the receptacle, in its development. Examples are apple, cashew (the fleshy "apple" part), and strawberry.
• A composite (multiple) fruit develops from an entire inflorescence, with many flowers fusing into one structure. Examples are pineapple, breadfruit and jackfruit.

Solution:

• A. Mango: a true fruit. It is a drupe developed from the ovary.
• B. Oil palm: a true fruit. It is also a drupe, with a fleshy mesocarp that gives palm oil.
• C. Orange: a true fruit. It is a hesperidium, a type of berry developed from the ovary.
• D. Pineapple: not a true fruit. It forms from a whole inflorescence of many flowers whose ovaries, bracts and axis fuse together. It is a composite fruit, and the other floral parts involved mean it is not a simple true fruit.

Answer: D.

Exam tip: Remember that "pineapple, breadfruit and jackfruit are composite fruits". Whenever a question asks for a true fruit "except", look for a fruit that comes from many flowers or includes non-ovary parts, such as apple, cashew or pineapple.