Final answer:
The relationship between a gametophyte and a sporophyte in a liverwort is like the relationship between parent and child, as the gametophyte produces gametes that after fertilization develop into a zygote, which becomes the sporophyte.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between a gametophyte and a sporophyte in a liverwort is akin to the relationship between parent and child. This is because the gametophyte gives rise to the gametes, which upon fertilization develop into the zygote. The zygote then matures into the sporophyte, hence the sporophyte is the descendant of the gametophyte in the plant's life cycle.
In the alternation of generations, the gametophyte phase produces gametes through mitosis, and after fertilization, these gametes form a zygote that develops into the sporophyte generation. The sporophyte in turn produces haploid spores, which grow into new gametophytes, continuing the cycle.