A scientist hypothesizes that allowing native plants rather than turfgrass to grow in roadside strips reduces flooding from heavy rains by absorbing more rainwater.
Which finding, if true, would most strongly support the scientist's hypothesis?
- A
Many roadside strips were originally planted with turfgrass for aesthetic reasons.
- B
Some native plants attract pollinators.
- C
Native plants generally require less mowing than turfgrass.
- Dcheck_circle
Roadside strips replanted with native plants absorbed twice as much rainwater per square meter during heavy rains as comparable turfgrass strips, and adjacent roads flooded less often.
Explanation
A directly tests both rainwater absorption and downstream flooding, the predictions of the hypothesis. B, C, and D are tangential.