Paragraph 1
By the mid-twentieth century, the absence of gray wolves in Yellowstone National Park had severely disrupted the local ecosystem. Without their natural predator, the elk population surged, leading to overgrazing along valley bottoms. This loss of vegetation, particularly young willow and aspen trees, left riverbanks barren and vulnerable to erosion, which in turn degraded the habitat for fish and beaver populations.
Paragraph 2
The reintroduction of wolves to the park in 1995 initiated a dramatic ecological recovery. As wolves preyed on the elk, they reduced their numbers and altered their grazing patterns, forcing them to avoid open valleys where they were easily hunted. Consequently, willow and aspen trees began to regenerate, stabilizing the riverbanks, slowing water flow, and allowing beavers to return and build dams, restoring the wetland environment.
Based on the passage, which of the following best describes the relationship between Paragraph 2 and Paragraph 1?
- Paragraph 2 describes a successful intervention that reversed the ecological decline introduced in Paragraph 1.Answer
- BParagraph 2 presents a conflicting scientific theory that disproves the claims made in Paragraph 1.
- CParagraph 2 details the historical events that directly caused the ecological damage described in Paragraph 1.
- DParagraph 2 focuses on a minor, unrelated environmental issue that occurred during the same timeframe as Paragraph 1.