Question

Species are disappearing at an accelerating rate through human action, primarily habitat destruction but also

pollution and the introduction of exotic species into residual natural environments. I have said that a fifth or
more of the species of plants and animals could vanish or be doomed to early extinction by the year 2020 unless
better efforts are made to save them.. As the last forests are felled in forest strongholds like the Philippines
and Ecuador, the decline of species will accelerate even more. In the world as a whole, extinction rates are
already hundreds or thousands of times higher than before the coming of man. They cannot be balanced by new
evolution in any period of time that has meaning for the human race.
What message does the author convey in this excerpt?
O Humans need to take action to end further destruction of the natural environment.
O In the coming years, humans will put forth stronger efforts to save plants and animals.
O The extinction of plant and animal species is problematic in the Philippines and Ecuador.
In recent years, the extinction rate for many animal species has significantly increased.

Answer 1

The correct answer is D) In recent years, the extinction rate for many animal species has significantly increased.

Step-by-step explanation:

This position is stated in the opening sentence. It is also highlighted in the third sentence. There it states that the rate at which plant and animal species are becoming extinct is many times (in thousands) higher than what it used to be.

If you backtracked a little to the second sentence, the writer attempts to actually put a date to the time when all plant and animal species would have been completely wiped out.

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