Question

In 1999, it was estimated that wild salmon in the Pacific Northwest had disappeared from up to 40 percent of their natural habitat. Furthermore, 17 different species of salmon were declared to be threatened or endangered species. The sharp decline in salmon populations was directly due to human cause: mainly over fishing and pollution to their habitat. Over the last 20 years, Washington has taken steps to improve salmon populations. This includes clearing streams of barriers and dams that block migrating salmon, using fish screens to keep salmon out of irrigation ditches, financing hatcheries (which release young salmon back into the wild), and helping salmon farms flourish. Today, wild salmon populations are starting to grow while the salmon industry continues to see growth as well. On top of this, the conservation efforts have led to over 4,400 new jobs in Washington state. What conclusion can you draw from this passage? Putting environmental concerns first will lead to a decrease in industry’s profits. Profit for industries should be prioritized over protection of endangered species. Environmental protection can be done while industries still grow and profit. Protecting endangered species will have no impact on industry.

Answer 1

The conclusion drawn from the passage is that environmental protection efforts, such as those taken to conserve wild salmon populations, can result in both ecological benefits and positive economic impact, including industry growth and new job creation. The correct answer is option c.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage demonstrates that environmental protection efforts, such as restoring salmon habitats in the Pacific Northwest, can lead to positive outcomes not only for the endangered species but also for the local economy and industries. It shows evidence that the decline in wild salmon populations was attributed to human activities like overfishing and pollution. The revival efforts, however, have contributed to an increase in salmon numbers and spurred industry growth, with the added benefit of creating new jobs. Hence, we can draw the conclusion that environmental protection can coincide with industrial growth and profitability.