A 20-foot-tall tree that seemed to have stopped growing was cut down by the forester who had planted it 43 years earlier, who was concerned that it might be diseased. Measurements over the past 10 years had shown that the tree's height varied only 2 or 3 inches each year, some years with a height increase and some years with a height decrease. Other data indicated that the tree had 41 rings of similar width and had produced similar numbers of nuts every year for the last 30 years. Based on these data, which conclusion was most likely a part of the forester's report on the tree's health?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the tree had produced similar numbers of nuts every year for the last 30 years and had 41 rings of similar width suggests that the tree was healthy and had reached its mature height but was otherwise continuing normal growth. The minor yearly variations in height indicate that the tree's growth had slowed down but not stopped completely and that it was not diseased.

A 20-Foot-Tall Tree That Seemed to Have Stopped Growing Was