Answer the question on the basis of passage given below:
Living systems are made up of various complex biomolecules like carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids etc. Proteins and carbohydrates are essential constituents of our food. Carbohydrates are primarily produced by plants and form a very large group of naturally occurring organic compounds. Some common examples are cane sugar, glucose, starch etc.
Carbohydrates are also known as saccharides because
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → it means sugar in Greek
The name comes from the Greek word sakcharon, meaning sugar. Many carbohydrates are sugars, so the whole class is also called saccharides; this is also the root of the names mono-, oligo- and polysaccharides.
Why the other options are incorrect
Option (1) sugarcane is a source — Incorrect. Sugarcane is a source of sucrose, but the name “saccharide” does not come from sugarcane.
Option (2) it is sweet in taste — Incorrect. Many carbohydrates (starch, cellulose) are not sweet at all, yet they are still saccharides; the name is from the Greek word, not from the taste.
Option (4) of monosaccharide units — Incorrect. This uses the word to explain itself; “monosaccharide” is itself derived from sakcharon.
NCERT (2026-27 edition):
Carbohydrates – “… Carbohydrates are also called saccharides (Greek: sakcharon means sugar).”