Question

Forest fires feed on decades-long accumulations of debris and leap from the tops of young trees into the branches of mature trees. Fires that jump from treetop to treetop can be devastating. In old-growth forests, however, the shade of mature trees keeps thickets of small trees from sprouting, and the lower branches of mature trees are too high to catch the flames. This paragraph best supports the statement that

• (A) Forest fires are more dangerous in forests with many small trees.
• (B) Old-growth forests are less likely to experience devastating fires.
• (C) Young trees are the main cause of forest fires.
• (D) Mature trees prevent forest fires from occurring.
• (E) Accumulated debris alone determines the intensity of forest fires.

Hint:

In "Critical Reasoning" or "Inference" questions, focus on the causal link. Here, the link is: Mature Shade $\rightarrow$ No Small Trees $\rightarrow$ No "Ladder" $\rightarrow$ No Treetop Fire. If a link in this chain is broken, the forest's natural resistance disappears.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept: The text explains that in old-growth forests, the shade of mature trees prevents "thickets of small trees from sprouting." Since these small trees usually act as a "ladder" for fire to jump from the ground to the treetops, their absence—combined with the fact that lower branches of mature trees are too high to catch flames—makes these forests more resistant to devastating treetop fires. Therefore, damage is naturally reduced.