Ballast waifs are seeds that arrive on one shore from another in the

Question

Ballast waifs are seeds that arrive on one shore from another in the soil placed in a ship’s hold as ballast. One remarkably lovely and dreadfully damaging ballast waif is Lythrum salicaria, the bright purple, spiky flower known commonly as purple loosestrife. Purple loosestrife is not a newcomer to U.S. shores; it arrived from Eurasia, almost certainly via ship, some 200 years ago.

For all its beauty, purple loosestrife is a menace. The same long growing season that makes it so beloved by gardeners makes it a seed-making machine. A mature plant may produce two or three million seeds a year. It also propagates underground, sending out shoots and stems in all directions.

Scientists took little notice of purple loosestrife until sometime in the 1930s, when a particular strain began colonizing along the St. Lawrence River, an area rife with the sort of wetlands purple loosestrife likes best. Purple loosestrife does not just propagate wildly; it also adapts easily to changes in environment. As it starts up in a new area, it quickly outcompetes native grasses, sedges, and other flowering plants, forming dense stands of purple loosestrife where once heterogeneous wetland meadows existed. This not only eradicates the native plants, but it also removes food sources for migratory birds and other animals.

In recent years, purple loosestrife has had a devastating impact on native cattails and wild rice. It has invaded and destroyed spawning areas for fish. In rural areas, it is beginning to move away from wetlands and adapt to drier areas, encroaching on agricultural lands. In urban areas, it is blocking pipes and drainage canals. It has moved steadily westward and is now found in all states but Florida.

Attempts to control purple loosestrife have been only partially successful. It has proved resistant to many herbicides, and it is impervious to burning, as its rootstock lies beneath the surface and can reproduce from there. It can be mowed down and plowed under, and then replaced with a less invasive plant. This is very labor intensive in marshy areas that are substantially overgrown, but it may be the only way of eliminating the pest.    1 
 1. According to the passage, all of these are true except

(A) Purple loosestrife propagates through an underground system.
(B) Purple loosestrife is found in urban and rural settings.
(C) Purple loosestrife is best eradicated through controlled burning.
(D) Purple loosestrife is not native to North or South America.
(E) Purple loosestrife is easily able to eradicate competition.

2 
 2. Which of these would be the best title for the passage?

(A) “A Floral Invasion”
(B) “A Gardener’s Worst Nightmare”
(C) “Migrating Plants”
(D) “Controlling Pesky Plants”
(E) “Developing New Herbicides”

3 
 3. The author’s mention of the St. Lawrence River shows primarily that

(A) ballast waifs prefer to travel on freshwater conveyances
(B) purple loosestrife does well in marshy areas along rivers
(C) most ballast waifs survive best in northern regions
(D) purple loosestrife can be replaced by less damaging plants
(E) cleaning up a river may help to eliminate pests

4 
 4. Which fact about purple loosestrife adds to its power of endurance?

(A) Easy adaptability
(B) Spiky stems and flowers
(C) Introduction as a ballast waif
(D) Preference for wetlands
(E) Range of purple coloration

5 
 5. The author suggests that people enjoy growing purple loosestrife because it

(A) keeps out other weeds
(B) makes millions of seeds
(C) has a long growing season
(D) reduces weevils and insects
(E) grows well in sandy soil

6 
 6. According to the passage, where would purple loosestrife least easily thrive?

(A) Among swampy areas of northern New Jersey
(B) In the wetland meadows of eastern Michigan
(C) Along the inland waterways of North Carolina
(D) Above the tree line in the mountains of Utah
(E) In the moist grasslands of western Illinois

RC Butler 2023  -  Practice Two RC Passages Everyday.   
Passage # 215 Date: 30-Jun-2023
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Ruchi007 · Answer

Sajjad1994  How to do #6?

Ps1810 · Answer

I believe that the answer to D comes from para 4, which, at the core, suggests that the plant has been growing in areas with water or in areas that are at least marshy. So, I believe, the option that suggests that there is less or no water will be the answer. Hence D.
Hope this helps.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

6. According to the passage, where would purple loosestrife least easily thrive?

Difficulty Level:   600

Explanation

The passage provides detailed information about the characteristics and behavior of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), a highly invasive and damaging plant species. Let's analyze the conditions mentioned in the options and determine where purple loosestrife would least easily thrive based on the information provided.

(A) Among swampy areas of northern New Jersey: 
Purple loosestrife is adapted to wetland environments and thrives in areas with ample moisture. Since northern New Jersey is described as  "swampy,"  it is likely that purple loosestrife could easily thrive there due to the presence of wetlands.

(B) In the wetland meadows of eastern Michigan: 
The passage states that purple loosestrife colonizes and thrives in wetland meadows, so eastern Michigan, with its wetland meadows, provides a suitable environment for the plant to thrive.

(C) Along the inland waterways of North Carolina: 
Inland waterways are not specifically mentioned as the preferred habitat for purple loosestrife in the passage. While the presence of water may provide some moisture, the specific characteristics of the inland waterways in North Carolina are not described, making this option less clear.

(D) Above the tree line in the mountains of Utah:  
Purple loosestrife prefers wetland and moist environments. The  "tree line"  refers to the elevation beyond which trees cannot grow due to harsh conditions. The mountains of Utah, especially above the tree line, are unlikely to provide the moist conditions that purple loosestrife requires, making this option a possible candidate for the correct answer.

(E) In the moist grasslands of western Illinois: 
The passage mentions that purple loosestrife prefers wetland meadows and moist environments. The moist grasslands of western Illinois would likely provide suitable conditions for the plant to thrive.

Based on the information provided in the passage, the option that stands out as the least likely environment for purple loosestrife to thrive is:

(D) Above the tree line in the mountains of Utah

This is because the harsh and dry conditions above the tree line in the mountains of Utah are not conducive to the moist and wetland-loving nature of purple loosestrife. The plant's preference for wetlands and its invasive behavior in such environments suggest that it would be less likely to establish itself and thrive in the mountainous, higher-altitude, dry conditions above the tree line.

Answer: D

VerbalBot · Answer

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Ballast waifs are seeds that arrive on one shore from another in the

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Ballast waifs are seeds that arrive on one shore from another in the

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