Fertilization produces a zygote that is haploid or diploid.

• A. Haploid
• B. Triploid
• C. Polyploid
• D. Diploid

Answer: (D)

Fertilization involves two gametes, each with one complete set of chromosomes. When these haploid sets fuse, the zygote ends up with two sets, making it diploid. This two-set state combines genetic material from both parents and is the normal outcome of sexual reproduction. A zygote with a single set would be haploid and is not produced by typical fertilization; zygotes with three or more sets arise only from unusual events like polyspermy or genome duplication, not standard fertilization.