Answer:
a)Passes from the water film surrounding soil particles through the cell wall by diffusion and then through the vacuole by osmosis. From here water can both pass to the other cortex cells by osmosis or pass through the tiny gaps between cells viadiffusion
b) Because there is a high concentration of mineral ions in the soil than the cell X more mitochondria is needed to supply energy for active transport against the concentration gradient.In the cell of the cortex however active transport happens in lesser rates because most ions would've passed from the root hair cell ( cell x)itself
hope this helps, btw it would be really appreciated if this is marked as brainliest
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