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 activity is weakening habitats that nourish or shelter a 2 read the sentence. “sala counters these concerns with a message of hope.” (paragraph 7) how does this sentence help distinguish the author’s perspective? a. by targeting the consequences of using financial excuses for not helping b. by highlighting the many negative impacts of not aiding in ocean conservation c. by offering a positive outlook on the issue of ocean protection despite its challenges d. by suggesting the author will downplay the concerns of those countries refusing to help

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The sentence doesn't target financial excuses, so A is incorrect.
• Option B: The sentence is about a positive message (hope), not highlighting negative impacts of not aiding, so B is incorrect.
• Option C: "Message of hope" shows the author presents a positive outlook on ocean protection even with challenges (the "concerns" mentioned), so this matches.
• Option D: The sentence is about Sala's response, not the author downplaying concerns of countries refusing to help, so D is incorrect.

Answer:

C. by offering a positive outlook on the issue of ocean protection despite its challenges