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?
(1 point)
The set of context clues that best points to the correct definition of "undergrowth" in the second sentence is:
- "fire removes thick shrubs and undergrowth"
- "the water supply increases, aiding other plants and local animals"
These clues suggest that undergrowth refers to the vegetation, such as thick shrubs and potentially smaller plants, that grows on the forest floor and competes for water and resources with other plants and trees. Fire removing this undergrowth implies that it is a lower layer of vegetation that can be dense enough to significantly affect the availability of resources like water.