Vast forests had been cleared for farms or plantations of fast-growing exotic trees that drained the ecosystem of water and degraded the soil. (paragraph 4 of “The Green Belt Movement”)

Question

• With the destruction of these cultures and the introduction of new values, local biodiversity is no longer valued or protected and as a result, it is quickly degraded and disappears. (paragraph 7 of “Wangari Maathai’s Nobel Lecture”)

Based on the sentences, what does the word degrade most likely mean?

(1 point)
Responses

to break down
to break down

to give up
to give up

to identify
to identify

to complete

Answer 1

Based on the sentences provided, the word "degrade" most likely means "to break down." The context indicates that biodiversity is being diminished and diminished health or quality of ecosystems is implied.