The Hidden Life of Trees

Lexile: 1030 | Grade: 8

Passage

When most people walk through a forest, they admire the trees for their height, shade, and beauty. But recent research suggests that forests are not just collections of individual trees—they are complex, connected communities.

Scientists have discovered that trees communicate underground using networks of fungi known as mycorrhizae. These tiny thread-like fungi attach to tree roots and form vast networks, sometimes called the 'Wood Wide Web.' Through these networks, trees can share nutrients, send warning signals, and even help each other survive.

For example, when one tree is attacked by insects, it can send chemical signals through the fungal network to warn nearby trees, which may then boost their own defenses in response. Older, larger trees—sometimes called 'mother trees'—have been observed sending extra nutrients to younger, smaller trees that are struggling to grow in shady conditions.

This communication is not conscious like human speech, but it suggests a surprising level of cooperation and interdependence in nature. Trees once thought to compete for sunlight and water may, in fact, be supporting one another in unseen ways.

Understanding these underground systems challenges the old idea that forests are just random gatherings of plants. Instead, they may function more like a community—interconnected, responsive, and, in some ways, intelligent. As scientists continue to study these secret networks, they’re beginning to ask a deeper question: what does it really mean to be alive and connected?

Questions

Q1: What is the central idea of the passage?

  • A. Trees compete for survival using underground fungi.
  • B. Forests are made of individual trees with no connection to each other.
  • C. Trees form underground networks that allow them to share resources and signals.
  • D. All forests should be protected because they are beautiful places to visit.

Q2: Why do scientists refer to the fungal network as the 'Wood Wide Web'?

  • A. It is made from wooden materials.
  • B. It functions like the internet by allowing trees to send information to each other.
  • C. It is a nickname for a group of endangered trees.
  • D. It was discovered by computer scientists studying forests.

Q3: What is the significance of the 'mother trees' mentioned in the passage?

  • A. They are taller than other trees and block sunlight.
  • B. They dominate the forest by taking all the nutrients.
  • C. They help support smaller trees by sharing resources.
  • D. They are rare trees that only grow in tropical forests.

Q4: What abstract idea is explored in the final paragraph?

  • A. Fungi are more intelligent than animals.
  • B. Forests should be cut down carefully.
  • C. Life may be more interconnected and intelligent than we once believed.
  • D. Trees should be used as models for building internet networks.

Q5: What is the author’s likely purpose in writing this passage?

  • A. To teach readers how to grow trees at home
  • B. To explain new scientific discoveries about how trees communicate and support each other
  • C. To warn people about the dangers of fungi in forests
  • D. To convince readers to avoid cutting down trees

Printable Comprehension Practice

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Answers & Reasoning

Q1: What is the central idea of the passage?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The passage explains how trees use mycorrhizal networks to communicate and support each other, revealing an unseen system of connection.

Q2: Why do scientists refer to the fungal network as the 'Wood Wide Web'?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The term 'Wood Wide Web' is a play on 'World Wide Web,' emphasizing how trees use the fungal network to share signals and nutrients, like data online.

Q3: What is the significance of the 'mother trees' mentioned in the passage?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The passage describes 'mother trees' as larger, older trees that can share nutrients with younger trees, showing nurturing and support within the forest system.

Q4: What abstract idea is explored in the final paragraph?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The author ends with a philosophical question, suggesting that forest communication challenges our understanding of intelligence and connection in the natural world.

Q5: What is the author’s likely purpose in writing this passage?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The passage focuses on recent research and discoveries about how trees communicate underground, offering scientific explanations and implications.