Question

read the scenario. hemlocks are a common type of tree in the northern forests of the united states. in studying one forest, a forester noticed that mature hemlocks were abundant but there were very few young hemlocks. she wondered why there were so few young hemlocks. by reading the records that other foresters in that area had kept, she learned that the population of deer living in the forest had doubled in the last five years. by reading studies on forests that other scientists had performed, she also learned that deer in similar forests like to eat young hemlocks and the young trees of other species. in the scenario, the forester wonders why one forest had mature hemlocks and very few young hemlocks. which part of a scientific method does this best illustrate? making an observation and asking a question forming a hypothesis setting up an experiment communicating the results of a study

Explanation:

The forester first noticed the abundance of mature hemlocks and scarcity of young ones (observation), then wondered why (asking a question). This aligns with the initial step of the scientific - method.

Answer:

making an observation and asking a question