Final answer:
Fungi obtain nutrients through saprophytic, parasitic, and mutualistic means, effectively making 'd) All of the above' the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The types of fungi according to their mode of nutrition are saprophytic, parasitic, and mutualistic. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question would be d) All of the above.
Saprophytic fungi decompose dead organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the environment. Parasitic fungi feed on living organisms, often causing harm to their hosts. Mutualistic fungi engage in symbiotic relationships where both the fungus and the host organism benefit from the association.
An example of a mutualistic relationship is the mycorrhizal association between fungi and plant roots, where plants gain increased water and nutrient absorption while fungi receive photosynthetically derived carbohydrates from the plant.