World Without Fish Chapter 4

In the 1800s, who was afraid that fish populations could be destroyed?

• Fishermen

• Scientists

• Conservationists

• All of the above

Answer explanation

Fishermen. “In the 1800s, when the study of fish and oceans was a relatively new science, it was the fishermen who were afraid that fish populations could be destroyed by catching too many fish, especially small fish.” (page 53)

What is "nature's bounty"?

• • The belief that nature is fragile

• • The belief that nature is unpredictable

• • The belief that nature is indestructible

• • The belief that nature is controllable

Answer explanation

Nature’s bounty is “the belief that nature is such a powerful force that it is indestructible.” (page 53)

What does "refuted" mean? (pg.55)

• • Accepted without question

• • Easily misunderstood or misinterpreted

• • Reinforced through additional evidence

• • Proven wrong or false through evidence or argument

Why did the commissions to examine the fears of fish depletion reject what the fishermen were telling them?

• • They believed fishermen were exaggerating

• • They were biased against fishermen

• • They were influenced by political agendas

• • They thought fishermen lacked scientific understanding

Answer explanation

They thought that the fishermen didn’t have the scientific understanding to know what was going on. They also thought the fishermen were interfering in “the progress of technology.” (page 58)

What is the meaning of "distinctive"?

• • Generic and common

• Characteristic of one person or thing and serving to distinguish it from others

• • Easily overlooked or forgotten

• • Undefined and vague

What does "misconception" refer to? (pg.53)

• • A mistaken belief or idea

• • A truthful statement

• • A widely accepted fact

• • A clear and accurate understanding

Why did scientists in the late 19th century think it was "impossible to destroy fish populations"?

• • Because fish populations were rapidly increasing

• • Because fishermen were careful in catching fish

• • Because fish populations were being monitored closely

• • Because fish lay millions of eggs

Answer explanation

Because scientist Anton van Leeuwenhoek “counted 9,384,000 eggs in a single, average-sized fish,” (page 54) people thought that if every fish had that many eggs and they all hatched, there would be plenty of fish regardless of how many were caught by fishermen.

What does "preservation" entail? (pg.57)

• • The act of abandoning something

• • The process of creating something anew

• • The act or process of keeping something safe from harm or decay

• • The process of altering something fundamentally

Why did Darwin refute this idea?

(scientists in the late 19th century thought it was “impossible to destroy fish populations”)

• • Because fish lay fewer eggs than previously thought

• • Because few fish offspring survive to adulthood

• • Because fish eggs rarely hatch successfully

• • Because nature could replenish fish populations infinitely

Answer explanation

Because “the reason nature provided fish with so many eggs is that few can survive in the sea … a fish will usually only have between one and six surviving babies, just like a mammal or a bird.” (page 55)

What had many government officials and scientists failed to notice?

• • The impact of climate change on fish populations

• • The increase in marine conservation efforts

• • The emergence of new fishing technologies

• • The decline in fishing industry profits

Answer explanation

“Many government officials and scientists had failed to notice that there was new technology being used with entirely new results.” (page 60)