From personal experience, you may have noticed that cut flowers placed in a vase with tap water continue to be "alive" for several days. what is the most likely explanation as to why these cut flowers don't immediately wither and die? a. cells in the flower petals continue to carry out photosynthesis. b. the tap water in the vase is an excellent source of nitrogen. c. the plant can still take up water from the vase via an "evaporative pump," i. e. transpiration.