Question

questions 1–5 are based on the following passage.
the passage below is a draft.
mexican gray wolves
(1) since 1998, when dwindling numbers of mexican gray wolves prompted the federal government to protect them under the endangered species act, the number of these wolves in new mexico has steadily increased (by 12 percent last year). (2) the frustration of new mexico ranchers who feel they have no recourse against the predator has also increased, as the number of livestock lost to wolf attacks grows at an alarming rate.
(3) federal reports identify the mexican gray wolf as responsible for the deaths of 188 domestic animals in the past year, making it clear that the new mexico state legislature needs to consider adding more protected wilderness areas. (4) as the native wolf population has recovered throughout the american west under similar protections, states like wyoming and idaho are considering delisting the native gray wolf from their endangered species lists, providing needed help to ranchers wanting to protect their stock.
(5) mexican gray wolf protections in new mexico have ranchers these feeling helpless.

2
mark for review
in sentence 3 (reproduced below), which of the following versions of the underlined text best establishes the writer’s position on the main argument of the passage?
federal reports identify the mexican gray wolf as responsible for the deaths of 188 domestic animals in the past year, making it clear that the new mexico state legislature needs to consider adding more protected wilderness areas.
a (as it is now)
b should clearly delineate the boundaries between private and public lands
c needs to reconsider protection of the formerly endangered mexican gray wolf
d should partner with state environmental groups to address future species protection issues

Explanation:

To determine the best version of the underlined text in sentence 3, we analyze the passage's main argument. The passage discusses the recovery of Mexican gray wolves and the need to balance their protection with ranchers' concerns. Option C ("needs to reconsider protection of the formerly endangered Mexican gray wolf") aligns with the context: the wolf population has recovered, so reconsidering their protection (now that they're less endangered) addresses the tension between wolf protection and ranchers' livestock losses. Option A is the original, which doesn't take a position. Option B is about land boundaries, irrelevant. Option D is about partnering with groups, not directly addressing the wolf protection reconsideration. Thus, C best establishes the writer’s position.

Answer:

C. needs to reconsider protection of the formerly endangered Mexican gray wolf