Question

Read the following introductory paragraph:

A slow, sad drama unfolding on a remote island is providing a grim challenge to the National Park Service’s traditional policy of letting nature take its course. Isle Royale in Lake Superior is home to the longest studied predator-prey relationship in the world. For over sixty years biologists have been watching the island’s moose and wolf populations, recording but not interfering in their struggles. But now, the wolf population is doomed and the delicate island ecosystem is spinning out of balance. It is time for NPS scientists to put down their notebooks and step in. It is time to save the wolves, and save the island.
What is the main function of the sentence “For over sixty years biologists have been watching the island’s moose and wolf populations, recording but not interfering in their struggles,” in the paragraph?

Answer 1

The main function of the sentence "For over sixty years biologists have been watching the island’s moose and wolf populations, recording but not interfering in their struggles" in the paragraph is to provide background information and context.

Step-by-step explanation:

This sentence establishes the historical timeline and approach taken by biologists in studying the predator-prey relationship on Isle Royale. It highlights the long-standing policy of observation without intervention, setting the stage for the current situation where the wolf population is in decline and the ecosystem is imbalanced.