Use the paragraph to answer the question.

Question

Mount Everest in the Himalaya Mountain range stands 29,053 feet and is still growing, gaining about 4 mm of height a year. _____ its immense height, Everest is not the Earth’s tallest mountain. That distinction goes to Mount Kea, which rises 33,500 feet when accounting for the nearly 20,000 feet of elevation that hides below sea level.
Which could be placed in the blank to show a contrast between Mount Everest and Mount Kea?

(1 point)
Responses

Because of
Because of

In similar fashion to
In similar fashion to

In addition to
In addition to

Despite

Answer 1

The best option to place in the blank to show a contrast between Mount Everest and Mount Kea is "Despite."

So, the sentence would read: "Despite its immense height, Everest is not the Earth’s tallest mountain."

This clearly indicates the contrast between Everest's height and the fact that it is not the tallest mountain when compared to Mount Kea.