Read the passage about riparian vegetation along watercourses and its ecological roles. Then answer the question. What effect does the author achieve by using the technical term riparian in the phrase riparian vegetation?

Introduction / Context:
The passage explains the importance of vegetation along watercourses and uses the technical term riparian vegetation with a short clarification in brackets. The question asks about the effect of this particular word choice. In reading comprehension, questions about diction or word choice test whether you can see how a single well chosen term shapes the tone, style, and authority of a passage.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Riparian vegetation is defined in the passage as the green band of vegetation along a watercourse.
• The passage discusses how this vegetation stabilises banks, filters sediment, and provides wildlife habitat and forage.
• The writing style is informative and somewhat technical, as seen in references to game birds, insects, and disease organisms.
• The author aims to give practical guidance about managing trees, shrubs, and dead trees in these areas.

Concept / Approach:
When an author introduces a specialised term and immediately explains it in simple language, the usual effect is to add precision while still supporting comprehension. The technical term signals that the topic has a scientific background and that the author is drawing on established terminology. At the same time, the explanation in brackets prevents confusion. Therefore, we must choose the option that best captures the combination of scientific tone and clarity, rather than confusion, condescension, or deception.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider the presence of the definition in brackets. Because the author explains riparian vegetation right away, the reader is less likely to feel confused or misled. Step 2: Evaluate option B, which says the term causes confusion. This is not accurate, since the definition in brackets removes most uncertainty and clearly links the word to vegetation along a watercourse. Step 3: Evaluate option C, which claims the tone is condescending. The explanation in brackets appears to be helpful, not mocking or patronising, so this option does not fit. Step 4: Evaluate option D. It suggests the reader is misled into believing the information is scientific when it is not. In fact, the passage does provide ecological and wildlife related information, so using a scientific term is honest and appropriate. Step 5: Evaluate option E. This states that the term has no clear definition, but the passage actually defines it. So this cannot be correct. Step 6: Evaluate option A. It states that the term gives the passage an authoritative, scientific tone by using a precise technical word. This exactly matches the role of riparian as used in the passage.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick check is to imagine the same passage without the word riparian and only with the phrase green band of vegetation along a watercourse. The information would still be clear, but it would sound less technical. Adding riparian, along with a definition, signals that the writer is using accepted terminology from ecology or environmental science. Thus, option A is a natural fit for the effect of this word choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B is wrong because the author removes confusion by defining the term immediately. Option C is wrong because nothing in the tone suggests that the writer looks down on the reader; the explanation is helpful and neutral. Option D is wrong because the passage really does discuss scientific and ecological facts, so there is no deception. Option E is wrong because the passage itself provides a clear definition in brackets, so the term is well anchored in meaning.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students assume that any technical word must create confusion or distance. However, context matters. When a specialised term is defined in simple language, it can both educate and lend authority to the discussion. Another pitfall is ignoring how the term fits the overall style of the passage, which is informative and ecological, not emotional or poetic.

Final Answer:
The use of the term riparian gives the passage an authoritative and scientific tone by introducing a precise technical word that is immediately explained for the reader.