Question

The passage suggests which of the following about the ring patterns of two trees that grew in the same area and that were of different, but overlapping, ages?

• A. The rings corresponding to the overlapping years would often exhibit similar patterns.
• B. The rings corresponding to the years in which only one of the trees was alive would not reliably indicate the climate conditions of those years.
• C. The rings corresponding to the overlapping years would exhibit similar patterns only if the trees were of the same species
• D. The rings corresponding to the overlapping years could not be complacent rings.
• E. The rings corresponding to the overlapping years would provide a more reliable index of dry climate conditions than of wet conditions.

Answer 1

The correct option is A The rings corresponding to the overlapping years would often exhibit similar patterns.

It is given in the passage that, ‘ring patterns of dead trees of different, but overlapping, ages can be correlated to provide an extended index of past climate conditions.’ If in fact they can be used to index past climatic conditions, then the pattern must be similar. This is expressed in option (a).