Read the passage carefully and then choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives. Manja, the glass coated string used for flying kites, poses a threat not only to humans, animals and birds but also to trees. A research paper explains that abandoned kite strings help creepers climb to the treetop and spread so thickly that they block sunlight, which can ultimately kill the tree. Question: How can a tree be killed by a creeper, according to the passage?

Introduction / Context:
This reading comprehension question focuses on the mechanism described in the passage by which creepers, helped by manja, can harm and eventually kill trees. The passage explains how abandoned kite strings act as support for creepers, which then grow over the treetops. The question asks what specific process leads to the death of the tree, testing the candidate's ability to identify cause and effect as explained by the authors of the study.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Manja strings get stuck in trees and provide a support system for tender climbers or creepers.
• The creepers climb up the tree using the strings and then spread across the treetop.
• The passage notes that the climbers and their accessory branches completely cover the treetop.
• It specifically mentions that this coverage inhibits the penetration of sunlight to the tree.
• The question: How can a tree be killed by a creeper, according to the passage.

Concept / Approach:
The passage explains a simple but powerful biological principle. Trees need sunlight for photosynthesis, the process by which they produce food. If creepers cover the treetop densely, they act like a shade or blanket that prevents sunlight from reaching the leaves of the host tree. Without enough light, the tree cannot produce sufficient food, weakens over time, and may die. Therefore, the specific mechanism mentioned is the blocking of sunlight, not mechanical strangling, nutrient theft, or chemical poisoning. The correct approach is to pick the option that reflects this shading effect described in the text.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the key phrase from the passage: the climbers completely cover the treetop, thus inhibiting the penetration of sunlight.Step 2: Understand that inhibiting sunlight means the tree receives less light than required.Step 3: Recognise that lack of light prevents efficient photosynthesis, which is essential for the tree's survival.Step 4: Compare this explanation to the options. Blocking its access to sunlight matches exactly.Step 5: Confirm that other options (wrapping tentacles, sucking nutrients, secreting toxic chemicals) are not mentioned in the passage and are therefore incorrect.

Verification / Alternative check:
Test each option against the wording of the passage. The text does not mention tentacle like structures choking the tree, nor does it describe creepers as parasite plants that suck nutrients in the way some parasitic species do. It also does not mention any toxic chemical secretion. Instead, it clearly emphasises that the complete covering of the treetop inhibits sunlight. Therefore, the only option that directly reflects the passage is blocking its access to sunlight. This is a straightforward case of matching the phrase inhibition of sunlight with its practical implication.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
By wrapping its tentacles around its branches: Although some creepers physically wrap around branches, the passage does not highlight this as the killing mechanism. By sucking away the nutrients: This describes a parasitic mode of life for some plants, but the passage does not state that these climbers feed directly on the tree's nutrients. By secreting toxic chemicals: No mention of toxins or chemicals exists in the text. Selecting any of these options would be guessing beyond the information given, which is not allowed in detail based comprehension questions.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may bring outside biological knowledge and assume that all creepers or parasites kill trees by sucking nutrients or strangling them. In exams, however, answers must be grounded strictly in the passage. Another pitfall is overlooking the key sentence about sunlight because it appears in the middle of a complex description. Training oneself to underline or mentally note clear cause and effect statements, especially those starting with thus or therefore, helps avoid such errors.

Final Answer:
According to the passage, a tree can be killed by a creeper by blocking its access to sunlight when the creeper completely covers the treetop.