Question

Read this introduction and conclusion to a passage.

Introduction

The world faces a calamitous food crisis if we do not stop overfishing. According to the United Nations, about one billion people, mostly in developing countries, rely on fish as their primary source of animal protein. What will they do when the fish run out? That crisis could occur soon. While there will probably never be a time when we do not have fish, there could come a time when we no longer have enough fish. The cause of this fish shortage is overfishing. Overfishing occurs "when more fish are caught than the population can replace through natural reproduction," according to the World Wildlife Foundation. Once this occurs, the species is no longer "sustainable."

Conclusion

Overfishing is a complex problem. Governments and organizations are hard at work to try to figure out a solution. So, what can you do to help the situation? Be more aware of where the fish you eat originates. Is it farmed or caught in the wild? Find other sources of protein to eat. Work to expand areas where fishing is prohibited. Solving the problem of overfishing will not be easy, but we can all play a role.



What is the intended purpose of this section of the passage?


To convince governments to stop supporting fishermen.


To persuade consumers to help stop overfishing.


To educate the reader about the World Wildlife Foundation.


To encourage restaurant owners to stop serving fish.

Answer 1

To persuade consumers to help stop overfishing.

The introduction presents the problem and urgency; the conclusion gives actions individuals can take (check fish source, eat other proteins, support no-fishing areas), which aims to persuade readers to change their behavior.