A 20-foot-tall tree that seemed to have stopped growing was cut down by the forester who was concerned that it might be diseased. She had planted it 43 years earlier. 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 measurements over the past 10 years showing the tree's height variation of only 2 or 3 inches each year, along with the tree producing similar numbers of nuts every year for the last 30 years, indicate that the tree was healthy but had already reached its mature height. The fact that the tree had produced consistent ring widths also supports the conclusion that the tree was healthy. Option A, that all growth stopped 10 years ago, is not supported by the data. Option C, that overactivity of the apical meristems caused stunted growth, is not supported by the given data either. Option D, that the tree did not grow taller because it was putting all its energy into nut production, is not necessarily true because the tree was still producing similar numbers of nuts every year even with consistent height variation over the past 10 years.

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