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. Which statement is a hypothesis that would best address the question, "Are deer eating the young hemlocks and preventing them from growing?"

Deer are eating young hemlocks.

Deer will eat young hemlocks, but not old hemlocks.

If deer are eating young hemlocks, then keeping deer away from the young trees will allow the trees to grow.

If the hemlocks are tasty to the deer, the deer will eat them.