Question

coral reefs are home to a variety of animals. for instance, more than four thousand kinds of fish, sea stars, crabs, and sharks can be found around reefs. many people depend on these sea creatures for food. people also depend on reefs to block waves from hitting the land during large storms. if a reef is damaged, it can rebuild over time. however, it can take hundreds of years for a reef to come back to life. because of this, we should do all that we can to protect our reefs.

what is the meaning of variety as used in the passage?

○ a large cage
○ a small family
○ a collection of different things
○ a group of things that are all alike

Explanation:

To determine the meaning of "variety" in the passage, we analyze the context. The passage states coral reefs are home to "more than four thousand kinds of fish, sea stars, crabs, and sharks". This shows a range of different animals.

• "a large cage" is irrelevant as the passage is about marine life types, not enclosures.
• "a small family" doesn't fit since thousands of kinds of different species are mentioned, not a small group.
• "a group of things that are all alike" contradicts the mention of multiple kinds (fish, sea stars, crabs, sharks are different).
• "a collection of different things" matches the context of various animal species in the reef.

Answer:

C. a collection of different things