Question

protecting earth
read the selection and choose the best answer to each question.
protecting earth
1 human encroachment is a term used to describe the relentless push of urban and suburban sprawl into existing wildlife areas. among its negative effects, encroachment displaces an animals food source, disrupts migration patterns and habitats, and can decimate landscape features that help to support all life on the planet. but thanks to a growing understanding of the benefits of wildlife areas and the biodiversity they offer, organizations around the globe help countries to protect acreage like never before, and the uptick in preservation shows no sign of stopping.
2 according to the world database on protected area, the number of protected areas around the world has been on the rise since as early as 1872. in fact, the number of protected regions has grown markedly in recent years. the year 2017 outpaced the previous years growth in protected areas by nearly 4 000 sites, contributing to the 15% of global protected land and nearly 7% of protected ocean areas in the world. as our human population surged in past decades and suddenly required more space on the planet, the increase in protected acreage seems an illogical event, but that
question 1.
in paragraph 2, the word surged means—
a. tossed or rolled about
b. reduced dramatically
c. rose suddenly to an unusual or excessive degree
d. moved forward in small increments
question 2.
according to paragraph 4, what is one reason a country might choose to p land?

Explanation:

The word "surged" in the context of the human population implies a sudden and significant increase. Option C ("rose suddenly to an unusual or excessive degree") aligns with this meaning. Option A ("tossed or rolled about") is more related to physical movement. Option B ("reduced dramatically") is the opposite of what "surged" implies. Option D ("moved forward in small increments") suggests a slow, gradual movement, which does not match the idea of a surge.

Answer:

C. rose suddenly to an unusual or excessive degree