What effect did railway expansion have on forests?

Correct answer: Demand for wood increased

The direct answer is B, demand for wood increased. Railways required large quantities of timber for tracks, bridges, fuel in some periods and especially sleepers, the wooden supports placed beneath rails. Step by step: railway construction expanded; more lines needed more sleepers; sleepers had to be strong and durable; therefore forests were cut and the demand for timber rose. Option A is wrong because railway expansion did not make forests grow automatically; it generally increased pressure on forests. Option B is correct because wood became an important railway material. Option C is wrong because farming did not completely stop; in many places forests were cleared precisely to create farmland. Option D is wrong because shipbuilding is not the main effect asked about here and has no direct connection with railway sleepers. Memory cue: railway tracks need wooden sleepers, so railways mean greater timber demand.