Which simple magnifying tool is used for close-up inspection of plant parts, insects, or seeds?

• A. Calipers
• B. pH Meter
• C. Hand Lens
• D. Spectrophotometer

Answer: (C)

A hand lens is the tool used for close-up inspection. It’s a small convex lens you hold near the sample to enlarge fine surface details, making it easy to examine plant parts like leaf texture and margins, seeds’ coats, or tiny insect parts without needing complicated equipment. It’s simple, portable, and doesn’t require power, which makes it ideal for quick field or classroom observations. Other tools serve different purposes—calipers measure size, not magnification; a pH meter checks acidity; a spectrophotometer analyzes light spectra for chemical information—so they aren’t suited for simply enlarging things for closer viewing.