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Difficulty: MediumRecognizing Explicit Cause and Effect

During the Maunder Minimum, a prolonged period of exceptionally cool temperatures in Europe spanning from 1645 to 1715, tree growth rings grew unusually narrow because of the shortened summer growing seasons. This slow, consistent growth pattern produced spruce wood characterized by an exceptionally high density and a highly uniform cell structure. Acoustic researchers hypothesize that this dense wood enhanced the speed of sound waves traveling through the soundboards of instruments crafted by the Cremonese luthier Antonio Stradivari, contributing to their legendary tone.

In addition to utilizing wood influenced by this distinct climate, Stradivari treated his raw materials with complex chemical preservatives containing borax and metal salts to deter wood-boring beetles. This preservation process unintentionally cross-linked the wood’s hemicellulose fibers, which subsequently increased the stiffness of the wood. Consequently, the combination of dense, climate-influenced wood and accidental chemical alteration created the unique acoustic resonance of these classical violins.

According to the passage, what was an unintended effect of Stradivari's decision to treat his violin wood with chemical preservatives?

  1. A
    The development of exceptionally narrow growth rings in the spruce wood due to shortened growing seasons.
  2. The cross-linking of the wood's hemicellulose fibers and an increase in its stiffness.Answer
  3. C
    The infestation of wood-boring beetles caused by the chemical preservation process itself.
  4. D
    A reduction in the velocity of sound waves propagating through the soundboard of the violins.

Answer

The cross-linking of the wood's hemicellulose fibers and an increase in its stiffness
The passage explicitly states that the chemical preservation process 'unintentionally cross-linked the wood’s hemicellulose fibers, which subsequently increased the stiffness of the wood.' This direct statement establishes the cross-linking and increased stiffness as the unintended effect of the chemical treatment.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the portion of the passage that addresses Stradivari's treatment of the wood with chemical preservatives.
The second paragraph states that Stradivari treated the wood with complex chemical preservatives containing borax and metal salts to deter wood-boring beetles.
This isolates the context of the chemical treatment from the climatic factors.
2
Identify the immediate consequence or side-effect of the preservation process.
The text explicitly states: 'This preservation process unintentionally cross-linked the wood’s hemicellulose fibers, which subsequently increased the stiffness of the wood.'
This directly answers what the unintended effect of the chemical treatment was.

Key Concept

Recognizing explicit cause-and-effect relationships
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Topics

Recognizing Explicit Cause and Effect

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