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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 [destroyed] 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.
Why should we care? What difference does it make if some species are extinguished, if even half of all the
species on earth disappear? Let me count the ways. New sources of scientific information will be lost. Vast
potential biological wealth will be destroyed. Still undeveloped medicines, crops, pharmaceuticals, timber, fibers,
pulp, soil-restoring vegetation, petroleum substitutes, and other products and amenities will never come to light.
Based on the excerpt, which statement best summarizes the author's beliefs about the disappearing species?
O The loss of plant species and habitats will lead to widespread animal extinction.
The loss of plant species and habitats will lead to environmental problems in remote regions.
O The loss of plant species and habitats will displace animals and decrease human wealth.
O The loss of plant species and habitats will devastate animals and hinder human progress.



Answer :

GinnyAnswer
In the given excerpt, the author expresses deep concern about the disappearance of plant and animal species due to factors like pollution and the introduction of exotic species into natural environments. The author highlights that a significant number of species could face extinction by 2020 if efforts to protect them are not improved.

The author emphasizes that as forests are destroyed, especially in places like the Philippines and Ecuador, the rate of species decline will accelerate. The text also mentions that extinction rates globally are currently much higher than they were before human intervention, making it difficult for new evolution to compensate for these losses in a meaningful timeframe for humans.

Regarding why we should care about the disappearing species, the author lists several reasons:
1. Loss of valuable scientific information.
2. Destruction of potential biological wealth.
3. Prevention of the discovery of new medicines, crops, pharmaceuticals, timber, fibers, soil-restoring vegetation, petroleum substitutes, and other valuable products.

Therefore, the statement that best summarizes the author's beliefs about the disappearing species is:
"The loss of plant species and habitats will devastate animals and hinder human progress."

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