Which word describes rotted wood's fracture compared with sound wood?

Which word describes rotted wood's fracture compared with sound wood?

• A. Brash
• B. Brittle
• C. Flexible
• D. Fibrous

Answer: (A)

Rot decay weakens the bonds between wood fibers, so when it breaks the fracture is rough, crumbly, and full of splinters. That jagged, break-with-splinters feel is described as brash. Sound wood, with intact fibers, tends to fail more cleanly or hold together longer under stress, not producing that same rough, crumbly fracture. Flexible would imply bending without breaking, which rotten wood can’t do well. Fibrous describes texture or composition, not how it fractures. Brittle is close in sense but doesn’t capture the characteristic ragged, splintered break rotted wood shows as well as brash does in this context.

Rot decay weakens the bonds between wood fibers, so when it breaks the fracture is rough, crumbly, and full of splinters. That jagged, break-with-splinters feel is described as brash. Sound wood, with intact fibers, tends to fail more cleanly or hold together longer under stress, not producing that same rough, crumbly fracture.

Flexible would imply bending without breaking, which rotten wood can’t do well. Fibrous describes texture or composition, not how it fractures. Brittle is close in sense but doesn’t capture the characteristic ragged, splintered break rotted wood shows as well as brash does in this context.