Why did expansion of new settlements and towns put pressure on forests?

Correct answer: Because settlements and construction needed land and timber

The direct answer is A: settlements and construction needed land and timber. New villages, towns, roads, houses and public buildings require physical space. They also use wood for beams, doors, roofs, fuel, railway sleepers and other construction needs. Therefore, expansion of settlements places pressure on forests in two ways: trees may be cut for timber, and forest land may be cleared for buildings, roads and cultivation. Option A is correct because it states both essential causes, land and wood. Option B is wrong because towns are not built only in seas; settlements normally require usable land. Option C is wrong because building settlements in or near forests often involves clearing or using forest land, not leaving forests completely untouched. Option D is wrong because towns do not necessarily end cultivation; in many cases, population growth can increase the demand for both farmland and forest products. The exact reasoning is: more people and buildings → greater demand for land and timber → more pressure on forests. Memory cue: settlement expansion means space plus wood.