a plant requires sunlight for photosynthesis & a leaf performs photosynthesis ->  a leaf requires sunlight to perform photosynthesis  absorbing something is a kind of method for obtaining something & if something is required to perform a process then that something must be obtained to perform that process ->  if something is required to perform a process then that something can be absorbed to perform that process  if something is required to perform a process then that something can be absorbed to perform that process & photosynthesis is a kind of process ->  if something is required to perform photosynthesis then that something can be absorbed to perform photosynthesis  a leaf requires sunlight to perform photosynthesis & if something is required to perform photosynthesis then that something can be absorbed to perform photosynthesis ->  a leaf absorbs sunlight to perform photosynthesis  a leaf absorbs sunlight to perform photosynthesis & photosynthesis makes food for the plant by converting carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight into carbohydrates -> a leaf absorbs sunlight to make food