Saving Killer Whales

Question

Have you ever heard of an orca? Orcas are mammals that live in oceans. They are black and white. They grow almost as big as a school bus! Orcas are sometimes called killer whales. But they aren't actually whales. Instead, they are the largest type of dolphin. Orcas live in oceans all over the world. They live in groups called pods. Sometimes pods of orcas work together to hunt for food. The orcas in each pod can talk with one another underwater. They do this by using clicks and other sounds. This helps them hunt together! Orcas eat different kinds of food. What they eat depends on which animals live near them. Some orcas eat seals and other mammals. some orcas eat only fish. One special group of orcas is in trouble. This group of orcas is called Southern Resident orcas. They live in the Salish Sea, which is in the U.S. state of Washington and Canada. They are in danger of becoming extinct. That means there would be no more of these orcas left on Earth. People are worried about the Southern Resident orcas. They studied why there are fewer of them. One reason is that there was not enough food for the orcas. These orcas only eat fish like salmon. But the number of wild salmon is going down. This makes it harder for orcas to get enough food to feed their babies and themselves. Now, people are trying to help these orcas. People are working to make sure there is plenty of salmon in the Salish Sea for the orcas to eat.
Which would be the best summary of the passage, "Saving Killer Whales"? A. The Salish Sea is in Washington State and Canada. This area has a decrease in salmon. B. all orcas will be extinct if action isn't taken. C. The Southern Resident orca is in danger for several reasons and will be extinct if they don't get more food to eat. The salmon in their area isn't as plentiful as it once was. More people should get involved with helping to save them so they aren't eliminated from the Earth. D. Orcas, sometimes called killer whales, are actually the largest type of dolphin. They typically live in pods and eat depending food sources in their areas. They hunt together in their pods by making clicking sounds to communicate. One type of orca is in danger of extinction due to a decrease in their salmon food source, and people are working to help save them.

Answer 1

The best summary of the passage, "Saving Killer Whales," is: C. The Southern Resident orca is in danger for several reasons and will be extinct if they don't get more food to eat. The salmon in their area isn't as plentiful as it once was. More people should get involved with helping to save them so they aren't eliminated from the Earth.

This option encapsulates the main ideas about the Southern Resident orcas' plight and the importance of their food source, while also suggesting the need for action to help them.