Question

sea change
by aryn baker for time, adapted by tfk editors
1
enric sala is standing under a replica of a right
whale at the natural history museum in washington,
d.c. its the summer of 2023. outside, wildfire smoke
drifts down from canada. but sala is talking about
whale poop. that poop is food for tiny ocean
organisms called plankton, sala says. as they take in
sunlight, plankton absorb carbon dioxide. then, the
plankton sink to the seafloor, trapping the
planet-warming gas. fewer whales in the ocean
means fewer plankton. that means more carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere, which creates the
heat-driven wildfires, like the ones causing the smoke
outside.
making the case
2
some think focusing on whale poop’s role in
climate change is too simple. however, this
perspective overlooks the interconnectedness of
natural systems. whales, plankton, and other marine
organisms play a crucial role in the planet’s carbon
cycle. ignoring these processes hinders climate
control and harms animals and people. according to
the national oceanic and atmospheric
administration, about 40 percent of the world’s
oceans are experiencing a heat wave. rising ocean
activity is weakening habitats that nourish or shelter a
1
how does the author respond to countries that have not joined the cause of ocean conservation?
a. by saying that those countries are right to focus on making money over conservation efforts
b. by ignoring the financial reasons behind why some countries don’t want to help
c. by arguing that the protection of the coastlines will result in more tourism and employment for the
country
d. by telling those countries they have to change their minds and collaborate with other countries
reset next

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The author doesn't support countries prioritizing money over conservation, so A is wrong.
• Option B: The author likely addresses financial concerns by showing conservation's economic benefits (like tourism/employment), so B is wrong as the author doesn't ignore financial reasons.
• Option C: Protecting coastlines can boost tourism and employment, which is a positive economic argument to persuade countries, so this fits.
• Option D: The author doesn't force countries but uses reasoned arguments, so D is wrong.

Answer:

C. by arguing that the protection of the coastlines will result in more tourism and employment for the country