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North American eastern white cedars grow both on cliff faces and in 06 Feb 2022, 04:00
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North American eastern white cedars grow both on cliff faces and in forests. Cedars growing on exposed cliff faces receive very few nutrients, and rarely grow bigger than one-tenth the height of cedars growing in forests, where they benefit from moisture and good soil. Yet few eastern white cedars found in forests are as old as four hundred years, while many on cliff faces are more than five hundred years old.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the difference in the ages of the cedars on cliff faces and those in forests?

(A) The conditions on cliff faces are similar to those in most other places where there are few tall trees.
(B) In areas where eastern white cedars grow, forest fires are relatively frequent, but fires cannot reach cliff faces.
(C) Trees that are older than a few hundred years start to lose the protective outer layer of their bark.
(D) The roots of cedars on cliff faces lodge in cracks in the cliff, and once the roots are so large that they fill a crack, the tree is unable to grow any taller.
(E) Eastern white cedar wood is too soft to be used for firewood or modern buildings, but it is occasionally used to make furniture.
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North American eastern white cedars grow both on cliff faces and in 06 Jun 2022, 19:33
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trulyness
North American eastern white cedars grow both on cliff faces and in forests. Cedars growing on exposed cliff faces receive very few nutrients, and rarely grow bigger than one-tenth the height of cedars growing in forests, where they benefit from moisture and good soil. Yet few eastern white cedars found in forests are as old as four hundred years, while many on cliff faces are more than five hundred years old.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the difference in the ages of the cedars on cliff faces and those in forests?

(A) The conditions on cliff faces are similar to those in most other places where there are few tall trees.
(B) In areas where eastern white cedars grow, forest fires are relatively frequent, but fires cannot reach cliff faces.
(C) Trees that are older than a few hundred years start to lose the protective outer layer of their bark.
(D) The roots of cedars on cliff faces lodge in cracks in the cliff, and once the roots are so large that they fill a crack, the tree is unable to grow any taller.
(E) Eastern white cedar wood is too soft to be used for firewood or modern buildings, but it is occasionally used to make furniture.
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Paradox question, so we don't need to find the conclusion and premise(s).
Rephrasing the paradox: Why, if forest cedars benefit from moisture and good soil, while cliff cedars receive very few nutrients, are there many 500yr+ cliff cedars and few 400yr+ forest cedars?
Anticipate the answer: Some explanation for why forest cedars are disadvantaged compared to cliff cedars.

(A) The conditions on cliff faces are similar to those in most other places where there are few tall trees.
This doesn't explain why cliff cedars live longer than forest cedars. Eliminate.
(B) In areas where eastern white cedars grow, forest fires are relatively frequent, but fires cannot reach cliff faces.
Oh, well that would explain why there aren't older forest cedars but there are older cliff cedars. Keep it.
(C) Trees that are older than a few hundred years start to lose the protective outer layer of their bark.
This doesn't explain a difference between forest cedars and cliff cedars. Eliminate.
(D) The roots of cedars on cliff faces lodge in cracks in the cliff, and once the roots are so large that they fill a crack, the tree is unable to grow any taller.
That explains why cliff cedars don't grow very large, but doesn't explain why forest cedars don't live as long. Eliminate.
(E) Eastern white cedar wood is too soft to be used for firewood or modern buildings, but it is occasionally used to make furniture.
Very out of scope. Eliminate.

Answer choice B.
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North American eastern white cedars grow both on cliff faces and in 13 Jun 2022, 23:43
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trulyness
North American eastern white cedars grow both on cliff faces and in forests. Cedars growing on exposed cliff faces receive very few nutrients, and rarely grow bigger than one-tenth the height of cedars growing in forests, where they benefit from moisture and good soil. Yet few eastern white cedars found in forests are as old as four hundred years, while many on cliff faces are more than five hundred years old.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the difference in the ages of the cedars on cliff faces and those in forests?

(A) The conditions on cliff faces are similar to those in most other places where there are few tall trees.
(B) In areas where eastern white cedars grow, forest fires are relatively frequent, but fires cannot reach cliff faces.
(C) Trees that are older than a few hundred years start to lose the protective outer layer of their bark.
(D) The roots of cedars on cliff faces lodge in cracks in the cliff, and once the roots are so large that they fill a crack, the tree is unable to grow any taller.
(E) Eastern white cedar wood is too soft to be used for firewood or modern buildings, but it is occasionally used to make furniture.
Show more

[img][img]

Basically we have to provide the reason behind the age difference between the two conditioned grown cedar.

(A) irrelevant; talking about tall trees
(B) correct; explaining reason behind age factor.
(C) weakening; irrelevant
(D) irrelevant; Again Talking about being tall
(E) out of scope; Total out from our concern.
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North American eastern white cedars grow both on cliff faces and in 21 May 2026, 06:11
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If the fire is too frequent, how does it does not destroy in 400 years and keep other for up to 500 years??
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North American eastern white cedars grow both on cliff faces and in 21 May 2026, 22:30
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North American eastern white cedars grow both on cliff faces and in forests. Cedars growing on exposed cliff faces receive very few nutrients, and rarely grow bigger than one-tenth the height of cedars growing in forests, where they benefit from moisture and good soil. Yet few eastern white cedars found in forests are as old as four hundred years, while many on cliff faces are more than five hundred years old.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the difference in the ages of the cedars on cliff faces and those in forests?

The puzzle is that forest cedars have better growing conditions, but cliff-face cedars live much longer. So the best answer should show why forest cedars are more likely to die earlier, despite having better nutrients and moisture. The key is survival, not growth rate.

(A) The conditions on cliff faces are similar to those in most other places where there are few tall trees.

Wrong. This explains why cliff-face trees may be short, but not why they are older.

(B) In areas where eastern white cedars grow, forest fires are relatively frequent, but fires cannot reach cliff faces.

Correct. Forest cedars may grow better, but frequent fires can kill them before they become very old. Cliff-face cedars grow slowly, but they are protected from fires, so many can survive for more than five hundred years. This explains the age difference directly.

(C) Trees that are older than a few hundred years start to lose the protective outer layer of their bark.

Wrong. This would apply to old trees generally and does not explain why cliff-face cedars survive longer than forest cedars.

(D) The roots of cedars on cliff faces lodge in cracks in the cliff, and once the roots are so large that they fill a crack, the tree is unable to grow any taller.

Wrong. This explains why cliff-face cedars stay small, but not why they live longer.

(E) Eastern white cedar wood is too soft to be used for firewood or modern buildings, but it is occasionally used to make furniture.

Wrong. This gives a possible human-use detail, but it does not explain the specific age difference between cliff-face and forest cedars.

Answer: (B)
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