Questions: Which of the following carbohydrates is readily absorbed? a.) Glucose b.) Starch c.) Sucrose d.) Maltose

The answer is the first one (a): Glucose.

Explanation for each option:

a.) Glucose - Glucose is a simple sugar (monosaccharide) that is readily absorbed in the small intestine. It does not require any further digestion before absorption, making it the most readily absorbed carbohydrate among the options listed.

b.) Starch - Starch is a complex carbohydrate (polysaccharide) that must be broken down into simpler sugars, such as glucose, before it can be absorbed. This process involves enzymatic digestion, which takes time, so starch is not readily absorbed.

c.) Sucrose - Sucrose is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose. It must be broken down by the enzyme sucrase into its monosaccharide components before absorption can occur. Therefore, it is not as readily absorbed as glucose.

d.) Maltose - Maltose is also a disaccharide, consisting of two glucose molecules. It needs to be broken down by the enzyme maltase into glucose before it can be absorbed, so it is not as readily absorbed as glucose.

In summary, glucose is the carbohydrate that is most readily absorbed because it is already in its simplest form and does not require further digestion.