The "Red Data Book" provides an account of which of the following?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to environmental science and biodiversity conservation. The "Red Data Book" is an important reference document used internationally to indicate the conservation status of species. Understanding what it contains helps you interpret news related to threatened species and conservation priorities around the world.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The term "Red Data Book" is mentioned without specifying the organisation, but it usually refers to lists associated with the International Union for Conservation of Nature or similar authorities.
• You must choose what kind of information this book provides.
• The options include various combinations of plants, animals and fossils.

Concept / Approach:
The "Red Data Book" is used to list species that are at high risk of extinction in the wild. It includes categories such as endangered, critically endangered and vulnerable species. Importantly, it covers both plant species and animal species, not only one of these groups. Therefore, any option that restricts the coverage to only plants or only animals is incomplete.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the key purpose of the Red Data Book is to identify and document species that are under threat of extinction. Step 2: Remember that these threatened species lists include diverse taxa, such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, insects and many plant groups. Step 3: Evaluate option a, "Extinct animals only". This is incorrect because the main focus is on species that are currently threatened, not exclusively on those already extinct. Step 4: Evaluate option b, "Endangered plants and animals". This matches the purpose of the Red Data Book, which is to track threatened plants as well as animals. Step 5: Evaluate option c, "Endangered plants only". This is incomplete because animals are also included in these lists. Step 6: Evaluate option d, "Fossil plants only", and option e, "Domesticated breeds of animals". Both are unrelated to the Red Data Book's main purpose of listing threatened wild species. Step 7: Therefore the correct answer is "Endangered plants and animals".

Verification / Alternative check:
Information from environmental science textbooks and authoritative conservation organisations confirms that Red Data Books and Red Lists are used to document the conservation status of both plant and animal species in various threat categories. The presence of plants and animals from many habitats and regions in the lists shows that the document does not restrict itself to any one type of organism.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Extinct animals are sometimes mentioned in conservation discussions, but the Red Data Book is mainly concerned with threatened species that still exist, so option a is misleading. Option c leaves out animal species and is therefore incomplete. Option d focuses on fossil plants, which belong to past geological ages and are studied in palaeobotany, not conservation status listing. Option e refers to domesticated breeds, which are generally managed by humans and are not the focus of the Red Data Book describing threatened wildlife.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes equate "Red" with danger and then assume that the book might deal only with animals, especially large mammals and birds. This mental shortcut ignores the fact that many plant species are also critically endangered and require conservation attention. To avoid confusion, always remember that the Red Data Book or Red List deals with threatened species of both plants and animals in the wild.

Final Answer:
The "Red Data Book" provides an account of endangered plants and animals.