Final answer:
Sugar and starch provide energy but are metabolized differently due to their complexity; sugar is simpler and thus easier to digest than starch, which is a long chain of glucose requiring extensive breakdown.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sugar and starch are metabolized differently despite both providing energy primarily because of their structural differences. Sugars, like glucose and fructose, are simple carbohydrates that can be easily absorbed into the bloodstream, providing quick energy. Starches, on the other hand, are complex carbohydrates made up of long chains of glucose molecules that must be broken down by digestive enzymes into individual glucose units before they can be absorbed. The digestion of starches begins with amylase in the mouth, which starts breaking down the long chains. Once in the small intestine, pancreatic amylase and brush border enzymes like a-dextrinase and maltase further break down starch fragments into absorbable monosaccharides.
The correct answer to the question is option A: Sugar is easier to digest than starch. This is because sugar molecules are shorter and simpler, while starches are long polysaccharide chains that require more extensive digestive enzymes to break down into glucose.