Questions 29 – 30. Choose a, b or c as the best answer. 29. Which statement is the speaker most likely to agree with?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Whales play essential roles in nutrient cycling, food webs, and carbon sequestration, so the speaker most likely endorses their ecological importance.

1. Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Ecosystem services: whales contribute to nutrient mixing (the “whale pump”), supporting phytoplankton growth that forms the base of marine food webs.
- Trophic interactions: whales affect prey populations and predator-prey balance, influencing overall ecosystem structure.
- Carbon storage: whales sequester carbon both in their bodies (when they die and sink) and by supporting phytoplankton that absorb CO2.
- Conservation nuance: effective protection usually requires multiple strategies (research, protected areas, fisheries management), so absolute claims about any single method being the only solution are unlikely.

2. Step-by-step reasoning
- The speaker’s statements in the passage emphasize whales’ positive impact on ocean health (nutrient distribution, supporting plankton, affecting fisheries).
- From those points, a conclusion that whales are important for the overall health of ocean ecosystems follows directly: the described roles tie to ecosystem productivity and climate regulation.
- The speaker does not dismiss scientific research or claim a single solution is sufficient, so extreme positions (research unnecessary; only protected areas work) are inconsistent with the evidence provided.

3. Calculations
- Not applicable for this conceptual question.

4. Why the correct answer is correct
- Option c summarizes the speaker’s emphasis: whales support processes that sustain marine ecosystems. This is a direct, generalizable statement matching the passage’s claims.

5. Why the other options are incorrect
- Option a (“continued research is unnecessary”) contradicts any speaker who explains mechanisms and complexities; those explanations imply research is valuable.
- Option b (“creating marine protected areas is the only way”) is too absolute; the speaker likely mentions multiple conservation tools rather than a single exclusive solution.

6. Conclusion
Therefore, the best-supported choice is c. Whales are important for the overall health of ocean ecosystems. This matches the provided answer.

Questions 29 – 30. Choose a, b or c as the best answer. 29. Which statement is the speaker most likely to agree with?Single choice

Similar Questions

28. Responsible Answer Question 22[input] can reduce negative impacts on whale habitats.