What environmental challenge is posed to young plants by an old growth forest?

Question

A.  low humidity
B.  high temperatures
C.  low light
D.  thick leaf litter


Clarify question:
What is the key concept addressed by the question?

What type of thinking is required?

Gather Content:
What do you already know about the conditions that exist in a mature forest environment? What other information is related to the question? 

Choose Answer:
Given what you now know, what information is most likely to produce the correct answer?


Reflection on Process:
Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

Answer 1

C.  low light


Clarify question:
What is the key concept addressed by the question?
The key concept is about identifying challenges a young plant would face in a mature developed forest.

What type of thinking is required?
This is an analyze question, you will need to break the question down into its components to determine the answer. 


Gather Content:
What do you already know about the conditions that exist in a mature forest environment? What other information is related to the question? 
A young plant needs light, nutrients, and water in order to grow. In an old-growth forest with mature trees there will be plenty of water and nutrients. The abundance of tall trees presents a problem for the plant. The mature trees are full of leaves and absorb almost all of the available sunlight. Without enough light the young plants will not be able to do photosynthesis.


Choose Answer:
Given what you now know, what information is most likely to produce the correct answer?
Light is the biggest problem for the young plant. The forest canopy absorbs 95+% of the light that is why it is so dark in a mature forest.


Reflection on Process:
Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result? Were you able to make the correct choice? You needed to break down the question and figure out which components of the mature forest habitat would provide the biggest challenge for a young plant.