Final answer:
The statement is true as lightning can travel through a tree to reach the Earth despite wood typically being an insulator. Lightning utilizes the moisture in the tree as a path, sometimes causing the tree to split due to the rapid expansion of heat. Sheltering under a tree during a thunderstorm is hazardous because trees can conduct lightning to the ground.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true: although wood is generally an insulator, lightning can indeed travel through a tree to reach Earth. Lightning occurs when there is a build-up of electric charge in the atmosphere, and it seeks the path of least resistance towards the ground. Trees can sometimes act as that path, despite being insulators because the intense energy of a lightning strike can cause the electrical resistance of the wood to break down.
When lightning strikes a tree, it often follows the moisture content present in the tree, which acts as a better conductor than the dry wood itself. The water in the tree trunk heats up and rapidly expands, sometimes causing the tree to split or explode. Furthermore, the electricity can jump from the tree to other nearby conductors, including the ground, as it aims for the shortest route to discharge the build-up of electrical energy.
A tree struck by lightning can pose a hazard not only because of the fire risk but also due to the possibility of a secondary strike if the thunderstorm continues. For humans and animals, taking shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm is therefore exceptionally dangerous because of this potential pathway for the lightning strike.