Even more than mountainside slides of mud or snow, naturally

Question

Even more than mountainside slides
of mud or snow, naturally occurring forest
fires promote the survival of aspen trees.
Line Aspens’ need for fire may seem illogical
(5) since aspens are particularly vulnerable
to fires; whereas the bark of most trees
consists of dead cells, the aspen’s bark
is a living, functioning tissue that—along
with the rest of the tree—succumbs quickly
(10) to fire.
The explanation is that each aspen,
while appearing to exist separately as
a single tree, is in fact only the stem or
shoot of a far larger organism. A group
(15) of thousands of aspens can actually
constitute a single organism, called a
clone, that shares an interconnected root
system and a unique set of genes. Thus,
when one aspen—a single stem—dies,
(20) the entire clone is affected. While alive,
a stem sends hormones into the root
system to suppress formation of further
stems. But when the stem dies, its
hormone signal also ceases. If a clone
(25) loses many stems simultaneously, the
resulting hormonal imbalance triggers a
huge increase in new, rapidly growing
shoots that can outnumber the ones
destroyed. An aspen grove needs to
33
(30) experience fire or some other disturbance
regularly, or it will fail to regenerate and
spread. Instead, coniferous trees will
invade the aspen grove’s borders and
increasingly block out sunlight needed by
the aspens.

Q36:
It can be inferred from the passage that when aspen groves experience a “disturbance”
(line 30), such a disturbance
A. leads to a hormonal imbalance within an aspen clone
B. provides soil conditions that are favorable for new shoots
C. thins out aspen groves that have become overly dense
D. suppresses the formation of too many new aspen stems
E. protects aspen groves by primarily destroying coniferous trees rather than aspens
Answer:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q37:
The author of the passage refers to “the bark of most trees” (line 6) most likely in order to
emphasize the
A. vulnerability of aspens to damage from fire when compared to other trees
B. rapidity with which trees other than aspens succumb to destruction by fire
C. relatively great degree of difficulty with which aspens catch on fire when
compared to other trees
D. difference in appearance between the bark of aspens and that of other trees
E. benefits of fire to the survival of various types of trees
Answer

aviator83 · Answer

Q36:
It can be inferred from the passage that when aspen groves experience a “disturbance” (line 30), such a disturbance
A. leads to a hormonal imbalance within an aspen clone
B. provides soil conditions that are favorable for new shoots
C. thins out aspen groves that have become overly dense
D. suppresses the formation of too many new aspen stems
E. protects aspen groves by primarily destroying coniferous trees rather than aspens
Answer: A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q37:
The author of the passage refers to “the bark of most trees” (line 6) most likely in order to
emphasize the
A. vulnerability of aspens to damage from fire when compared to other trees
B. rapidity with which trees other than aspens succumb to destruction by fire
C. relatively great degree of difficulty with which aspens catch on fire when
compared to other trees
D. difference in appearance between the bark of aspens and that of other trees
E. benefits of fire to the survival of various types of trees
Answer: A

FN · Answer

i will go for A and A

whats the OA?

pmenon · Answer

yeah, A and A for me as well.

rpmodi · Answer

Yes that's correct , I selected E for Q36 , How do I avoid that mistake? I mean I read the last line of the passage and i thought E is the best answer . Can someone give good reasoning for eliminating E ?

aviator83 · Answer

Refer to line 30 -  An aspen grove needs to (30) experience fire or some other disturbance regularly, or it will fail to regenerate and spread.

and refer to option E-  protects aspen groves by primarily destroying coniferous trees rather than aspens 
where is it said in the passage that E is what disturbance means ?
the author describes "disturbance" on the same lines as he describes fire. - that is the role palyed by both of them is similar.
Now is the role played by fire the same as what has been described in option E ?
Let me know if you still don't get it, i will try explain it further.

rpmodi · Answer

aviator thanks much for your help , I tell you my reason to select E

An aspen grove needs to experience fire or some other disturbance
regularly, or it will fail to regenerate and
spread.  Instead, coniferous trees will
invade the aspen grove’s borders and
increasingly block out sunlight needed by
the aspens.  --so if there is no fire , coniferous trees will invade the aspen borders and that will inhibit the growth of aspen trees .
What do you infer from that last line ?

aviator83 · Answer

just for a minute forget the last line (the one highlighted in red) and see if your answer changes to A.
now as far as the last line is concerned - it just gives you the consequence of what would happen if a fire/a similar disturbance doesnot happen. 
And the consequence is that aspen would cease to grow because "coniferous trees will invade the aspen grove’s borders and increasingly block out sunlight needed by the aspens". 
The last line is nothing but additional information.

rpmodi · Answer

makes sense , thanks aviator :-)

+1

lexis · Answer

Make sense! Thanks Aviators!

Even more than mountainside slides of mud or snow, naturally

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards