"Both zoos and reserves attempt to ensure that animals will survive for future generations, but, whether intentionally or not, both habitats potentially harm the animals they seek to protect. To ensure that future generations of animals will escape extinction, the best answer might be neither zoos nor animal reserves but simply for humans to leave animals alone in their natural habitat. At the very least, humans must find an ethical and humane way to preserve all species with which we share the planet." (Folse, 2014, p. 119)

The conclusion paragraph above comes from an essay which argues that although zoos and reserves seem to protect animals from extinction, they may, in fact, be jeopardizing the well-being of animals since zoos do not replicate the conditions of the wild and reserves might attract poachers who kill these animals to sell their parts in the black market.

Based on this information, which of the following is missing from this paragraph?

Question

"Both zoos and reserves attempt to ensure that animals will survive for future generations, but, whether intentionally or not, both habitats potentially harm the animals they seek to protect. To ensure that future generations of animals will escape extinction, the best answer might be neither zoos nor animal reserves but simply for humans to leave animals alone in their natural habitat. At the very least, humans must find an ethical and humane way to preserve all species with which we share the planet." (Folse, 2014, p. 119)

The conclusion paragraph above comes from an essay which argues that although zoos and reserves seem to protect animals from extinction, they may, in fact, be jeopardizing the well-being of animals since zoos do not replicate the conditions of the wild and reserves might attract poachers who kill these animals to sell their parts in the black market.

Based on this information, which of the following is missing from this paragraph?

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Let’s break down what the paragraph is doing and what would typically complete it in an essay. 
Option 1: restatement of the thesis/argument. In many essays, a concluding paragraph begins by restating the main thesis or argument in different words to reinforce it. The given paragraph already references the essay’s central claim about zoos and reserves potentially harming animals, so this option would be plausible if the paragraph were concluding rather than introduction-discussion. However, since the excerpt is explicitly describing the essay’s stance, a restatement at this point would risk repetition rather than advancing the conclusion. 
Option 2: summary of key points. A common function of a concluding paragraph is to briefly recap the main points that supported the thesis, helping the reader see how the argument fits together. Given that the paragraph discusses the potential harms of zoos and reserves and the overarching goal of humane preservation, a concise summary of the key points would naturally follow to remind readers of the evidence and logic presented. 
Option 3: practical implications/ final thoughts on the topic. Another typical closure is to offer implications, recommendations, or a closing reflection about what should be done or considered in the future. Since the excerpt already raises an ethical call to action toward humane preservation, including practical implications or final thoughts would be consistent with a concluding purpose, though the sentence provided emphasizes the policy-level argument rather than concrete steps. 
Option 4: No answer text provided. This option points to a meta-comment about missing text. The paragraph clearly includes substantive content, so this option seems unlikely unless the task is identifying that the paragraph lacks textual elements, which doesn’t fit the typical essay structure context. 
In evaluating these options, we weigh how a concluding paragraph typically functions: it often restates the thesis, recaps key points, and/or provides final considerations. Restating the thesis (Option 1) is a plausible closure device, but in many essays you would see a recap of key points (Option 2) to synthesize the argument, or practical implications (Option 3) to push the reader toward action, especially given the ethical stakes highlighted in the excerpt. Option 4 would only be chosen if the paragraph truly had no concluding material, which isn’t supported by the excerpt. 
Overall, the most fitting completion for a concluding paragraph that follows a critical analysis of zoos and reserves would typically be a concise summary of the key points (Option 2) or a forward-looking implication (Option 3). The reasoning here recognizes that both 2 and 3 are commonly expected in conclusions, while 1 is possible but less likely given the excerpt’s descriptive framing, and 4 is not warranted by the provided text.

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