A scientist is testing the effect of a new nutrient supplement on plant growth. She prepares three identical pots with the same soil and seeds. Pot A receives no supplement. Pot B receives the recommended dose of the supplement. Pot C receives double the recommended dose. All pots are kept in the same location with identical light and water exposure. Which of the following is the primary purpose of Pot A in this experiment?
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A
To serve as a control group to provide a baseline for comparison.
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B
To determine the maximum amount of supplement the plant can tolerate.
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C
To test if the seeds are viable and will grow without any intervention.
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D
To act as a backup in case the other plants do not grow.