Question

Read the passage "Easter Island Palm."

EASTER ISLAND PALM
In the 1400s, the Easter Island palm became extinct due to overharvesting. Reproduction was nearly impossible because islanders introduced rats when they first arrived. These rats ate the Easter Island palm seeds, preventing the Easter Island palm from flourishing. With the disappearance of the palm, the islanders could no longer build the boats they needed for fishing.

Which of the following would NOT result from the loss of the Eastern Island palm?

the erosion of topsoil, leading to decreased crop production


a decrease in the temperature, leading to decreased biodiversity


an increase in the islanders' consumption of land and migratory birds, resulting in a decrease in the bird population


the loss of pollinating birds to the island, resulting in a decrease in the variety of plant life on the island

Answer 1

Answer: "a decrease in the temperature, leading to decreased biodiversity."

Explanation: Removing the palms would not be expected to lower local temperatures — if anything, loss of tree cover increases daytime temperatures and temperature extremes and reduces humidity. The other outcomes (more erosion and lower crop yields, greater reliance on land/migratory birds reducing bird populations, and loss of pollinating/seed-dispersing birds reducing plant diversity) are plausible consequences of palm extinction.