Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Why does the author most likely choose to discuss bleaching in paragraph 6?

• Bleaching affects the coral's ability to prosper.

• Bleaching is an effect of pollution in the water.

• Bleaching can reduce effects of climate change.

• leaching slows the efforts that farmers make.

Which line below best supports the answer to Part A?

• "The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority considers climate change to be the most serious threat to the reef." (paragraph 6)

• "This results in the coral becoming more prone to diseases." (paragraph 6)

• "Farm run­off eventually makes its way from the Australian farms to the waters of the reef." (paragraph 6)

• "These threats must be watched carefully to make sure that the reef lives and stays healthy for millions of years to come!" (paragraph 8)

Which sentence best states the main idea of the passage?

• Australia's Great Barrier Reef is important because it is the largest living structure on the planet.

• Australia's Great Barrier Reef provides a home for animals which have existed since prehistoric times.

• Australia's Great Barrier Reef should be protected because it helps many plants and animals to survive.

• Australia's Great Barrier Reef can provide solutions to many issues related to tropical storms.

According to information in the passage, what is one important reason to protect the reef?

• It has grown above the older reef.

• It has changed through the years.

• It responds to waves' movements.

• It can protect the land from harm.

According to the information in the passage, what is the key ingredient in the formation of the reef's network?

• sea grasses

• calcium carbonate

• prehistoric animals

• neighboring plants

Read the following sentence from paragraph 2.

"It took millions of years for this ecosystem to develop."

What does ecosystem mean as it is used in the sentence?

• organism

• building

• network

• structure

Read the sentence from paragraph 6 below.

This results in the coral becoming more prone to diseases.

Choose a phrase for each blank to complete the sentence.

As it is used in this sentence, prone means______ or _______?

• open

• unlikely

• improbable

• probable

In the section Threats to the Reef, the details are arranged by __________.

• the sequence of events

• cause and effect

• the order of importance

• problem and solution