Question

question 5
read the sentence in the box below. then, answer the question to the right.
which choice below best paraphrases the passage?
coral reefs and ocean plants live cooperatively—the coral organisms get their oxygen from the plants, which grow on the reef structures. this is why reefs usually grow in sunny areas near the surface.
coral reefs and ocean plants live cooperatively, so reefs grow in sunny areas close to the oceans surface.
coral reefs and ocean plants live cooperatively, which is why reefs grow in sunny areas near the surface.
coral reefs are found close to the sunny ocean surface because the plants they rely on need sunlight to grow.
coral reefs dont need sunlight. they do, however, need oxygen, which they get from the ocean plants.

Explanation:

The original passage emphasizes that coral reefs and ocean plants have a cooperative relationship. The plants (which grow on reef structures) provide oxygen to coral organisms. And because of this relationship (as plants likely need sunlight, which is more available in sunny areas near the surface), reefs grow in such areas.

• The first option adds “so reefs grow in sunny areas close to the ocean’s surface” which is a result of the cooperative relationship but doesn't fully capture the causal link related to the plants' need (implied by the original “this is why”).
• The second option just restates “cooperatively” and “why reefs grow in sunny areas near the surface” without highlighting the plant - reef oxygen - sunlight connection.
• The third option clearly states that coral reefs are near the sunny ocean surface because the plants they rely on (for oxygen, as per the original, and plants need sunlight) need sunlight. This captures the essence of the original passage's cause - effect (plants need sunlight, reefs are where plants are, so reefs are in sunny surface areas due to plant - reef relationship).
• The fourth option is incorrect as the original implies reefs are in sunny areas (so they are in a place where there is sunlight, even if the coral itself may not directly need it, but the plants it depends on do).

Answer:

Coral reefs are found close to the sunny ocean surface because the plants they rely on need sunlight to grow.