Curious Minute
Sep 3
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Curious Minute answer

Why can fire help giant sequoias reproduce?

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The answer

It opens cones and clears bare soil

The answer was It opens cones and clears bare soil. Here's the why, the decoys, and the source trail.


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Why it's right

Heat can help older giant sequoia cones open, releasing seeds onto mineral soil exposed by fire.


The source-backed detail

Periodic fire helps giant sequoia regeneration by opening older cones and exposing mineral soil for seeds.



About the choices

A good question makes the wrong answers feel close. Here is the clean read on the set.

  • It melts bark into fertilizer - a decoy; it may live near the same topic, but it does not answer this exact clue.
  • It opens cones and clears bare soil - correct answer.
  • It turns needles into seeds - a decoy; it may live near the same topic, but it does not answer this exact clue.
  • It deepens the roots - a decoy; it may live near the same topic, but it does not answer this exact clue.

What to remember

It opens cones and clears bare soil is the one to remember. Heat can help older giant sequoia cones open, releasing seeds onto mineral soil exposed by fire. A mature giant sequoia can carry thousands of cones at once.


How readers answered
A0%
B80%
C20%
D0%

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Sources: National Park Service