Use the sentence to answer the question.

Certain trees, in fact, produce seeds only when fire heats them. If the fire removes thick shrubs and undergrowth, the water supply increases, aiding other plants and local animals. Fire also may kill predatory insects or pests that live on and damage otherwise healthy trees.

Which set of context clues best points to the correct definition of undergrowth in the second sentence?

A. "thick shrubs, plants, trees"

B. "water, plants, animals"

C. "seeds, fire, animals"

D. “insects, pests, fire"

A. "thick shrubs, plants, trees"

The correct answer is A. "thick shrubs, plants, trees". In the sentence, "If the fire removes thick shrubs and undergrowth, the water supply increases, aiding other plants and local animals," the context clues "thick shrubs" and "undergrowth" are mentioned together. From this, we can infer that "undergrowth" refers to the vegetation, specifically plants and trees, that coexist with the thick shrubs.

The correct set of context clues that best points to the correct definition of undergrowth in the second sentence is option A: "thick shrubs, plants, trees."