What is the meaning of "decimated" as it is used in paragraph 11?

• A. geographically partitioned
• B. completely displaced
• C. strictly contained
• D. partly destroyed

The end of big Trees?

1 answer

In the context of the phrase "decimated" as it might relate to the end of big trees, the most accurate meaning would be:

D. partly destroyed

The term "decimated" originally referred to the Roman practice of killing one in every ten soldiers as a punishment, but it has evolved to mean causing significant destruction or loss. In this context, it likely implies that a substantial portion of the big trees has been harmed or removed, rather than complete annihilation or displacement.