🔍 Key Concepts

• Natural fiber rope properties such as how moisture affects fibers (e.g., manila, sisal, hemp) • Difference between temporary physical changes (like size or length change) and long‑term damage • Common causes of rope failure in storage (heat, sunlight, chemicals, mildew)

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: when a natural fiber rope stays damp for a long time, what kind of change is most likely to permanently weaken or destroy the fibers? • Which option describes damage that keeps getting worse the longer the rope stays wet, especially in a warm, poorly ventilated space? • Which choices describe effects that might happen briefly when wet but do NOT usually ‘ruin’ the rope permanently?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which choice refers to biological or chemical breakdown of fibers rather than just a shape or length change • Consider what happens to organic materials (like wood or canvas) when left damp in a dark locker for weeks or months • Eliminate any options that describe changes that are usually reversible once the rope is dried properly