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. it’s 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 acidity is weakening habitats that nourish or shelter a quarter of all marine life. people are affected, too. fish living in coral reefs provide food and income to a billion people worldwide. 3 sala’s remedy is to identify the areas with the what is the author’s perspective on the role of marine organisms in the planet’s carbon cycle? a. the author argues that focusing on them takes away from important climate issues. b. the author thinks their impact is unimportant when compared to other environmental factors. c. the author believes that their protection is necessary for climate control. d. the author is unsure about the extent of their influence.

Explanation:

the carbon cycle. It notes ignoring their processes "hinders climate control" and links fewer plankton to more atmospheric carbon dioxide (driving wildfires). This supports the idea that protecting these organisms is necessary for climate control. Options A, B, and D contradict the text’s emphasis on their importance.

Answer:

the carbon cycle. It notes ignoring their processes "hinders climate control" and links fewer plankton to more atmospheric carbon dioxide (driving wildfires). This supports the idea that protecting these organisms is necessary for climate control. Options A, B, and D contradict the text’s emphasis on their importance.