The Arctic Curlew, A Once Common Wading Species in the Tundra, Has Reached Endangered Status in a Mere Few Decades.

Reading Passage Question

The arctic curlew, a once common wading species in the tundra, has reached endangered status in a mere few decades. Those who account for the sudden loss of the bird do so in terms of either pollution or climate change. Fagen notes how hydrocarbons from oil tankers have increased in a proportion commensurate with the decline in the number of arctic curlew. He believes that the birds not only ingest hydrocarbons while wading in polluted water but that they also feed on worms and small fish that themselves have accrued modest amounts of hydrocarbons. Miller, on the other hand, believes that climate change alone can account for the depletion of the arctic curlew. She argues that since many of the areas in which it once fed no longer provide adequate sustenance, the bird has been forced to change migratory paths and must land in a foreign ecosystem where it is unable find adequate nutrition.

Both theories, however, are somewhat correct but not in a way that either Fagen or Miller would have likely anticipated. The theory positing that the hydrocarbons birds ingest affect their ability to navigate contains elements relating to both climate change and pollution. For example, when a curlew ingests tainted fish, its ability to navigate for several hours afterwards is diminished and it will often veer from its traditional path. Where at one point such deviations would not have affected the bird’s ability to forage, climate change has resulted in a significant diminishment of areas capable of providing sufficient sustenance for the arctic curlew. As a result, it often succumbs to starvation.

“The Arctic Curlew, A Once Common Wading Species in the Tundra, Has Reached Endangered Status in a Mere Few Decades. " whenever a writer employs techniques”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.

This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 7 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. The theory offered in the second paragraph differs most from Miller’s theory in regards to the

1. type of sustenance that the curlew attempts to find
2. reason the arctic curlew veers from its traditional flight path
3. influence of oil tankers on the curlew’s ability to make navigational decisions
4. the amount of area available to a migrating curlew
5. extent to which its navigational course is affected by its environment

2. According to the passage, an arctic curlew suffering navigational issues is most consistent with which of the following?

1. Fagen’s theory
2. Miller’s theory
3. A theory with which the passage disagrees
4. A decrease in hydrocarbons
5. A decrease in areas providing adequate nutrition

3. Which of the following is the primary purpose of the passage?

1. To describe how elements of two theories are consistent with a third theory
2. To highlight shortcomings in two theories and to support a third theory
3. To contrast two theories and show how together both are sufficient
4. To discuss how a third theory is similar to two competing theories
5. To introduce three theories and describe notable flaws in each

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