Most forest fires and wildfires are natural. They clear away debris, old brush, and dying trees, leaving heartier trees behind that are better able to grow.
Which of the following describes what the word debris means in the second?
a type of insect
man-made substances
network of woody vines
scattered pieces of waste
scattered pieces of waste
The word "debris" in the second sentence refers to scattered pieces of waste.
To determine the meaning of the word "debris" in the context of the second sentence, we can break down the sentence and analyze the surrounding information.
The sentence states that forest fires and wildfires clear away debris, old brush, and dying trees, leaving heartier trees behind. Based on this information, we can infer that "debris" refers to scattered pieces of waste.
To arrive at this answer, we can utilize two strategies:
1. Contextual Analysis: By examining the information provided in the sentence, we can gather clues about the meaning of "debris." The sentence mentions "clear away," which suggests that something is being removed or cleaned up. The term "debris" typically refers to scattered pieces of waste or remains. In this case, it implies that the forest fires and wildfires are removing waste or dead matter from the area.
2. Domain Knowledge: Prior knowledge about the term "debris" can also help determine its meaning. In general, "debris" refers to scattered fragments or remains of something that is broken, damaged, or unwanted. This aligns with the idea of forest fires and wildfires cleaning up and removing waste or dead material from the forest.
Therefore, considering the contextual analysis and general understanding of the term "debris," the correct choice that matches the definition is "scattered pieces of waste."