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Question

Difficulty: MediumComprehending Explicit Comparisons and Contrasts

Passage:
Coastal wetlands act as vital buffers between land and sea, filtering runoff and protecting coastlines from erosion. Among these wet habitats, salt marshes and mangrove swamps represent two major ecological communities. While both perform similar roles in shoreline stabilization, they differ in their vegetation and environmental tolerances. Salt marshes are dominated by herbaceous plants, such as cordgrasses, which are highly resilient to cold temperatures. Consequently, salt marshes are primarily located in temperate and subpolar regions. In contrast, mangrove swamps consist of woody trees and shrubs characterized by complex aerial root systems. Because mangroves cannot survive freezing temperatures, these swamps are restricted to tropical and subtropical coastlines where frost is absent.

Based on the passage, how do salt marshes differ from mangrove swamps in terms of their environmental tolerance?

  1. Salt marshes can survive freezing winter temperatures, whereas mangrove swamps are restricted to regions where frost is absent.Answer
  2. B
    Salt marshes require warm tropical conditions, whereas mangrove swamps are adapted to freezing subpolar climates.
  3. C
    Salt marshes possess specialized root systems that withstand frost, whereas mangrove swamps have simple root structures.
  4. D
    Salt marshes protect coastlines from erosion, whereas mangrove swamps function primarily to filter terrestrial runoff.

Answer

Salt marshes can survive freezing winter temperatures, whereas mangrove swamps are restricted to regions where frost is absent.
The correct answer accurately reflects the passage's explicit contrast between the environmental tolerances of the two coastal wetlands: salt marshes are resilient to cold temperatures, while mangrove swamps are restricted to frost-free areas because they cannot survive freezing temperatures.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the specific sentences in the passage that compare the temperature and environmental tolerances of salt marshes and mangrove swamps.
The text states that salt marshes are 'highly resilient to cold temperatures' and primarily located in 'temperate and subpolar regions,' whereas mangrove swamps 'cannot survive freezing temperatures' and are restricted to coastlines where 'frost is absent.'
This step ensures that the analysis is grounded in the explicit literal details stated in the passage.
2
Evaluate the choices to identify the option that accurately captures this comparison without changing the meaning or swapping details.
The option asserting that salt marshes can survive freezing temperatures while mangrove swamps are limited to frost-free areas correctly represents the comparison.
Correctly identifying explicit contrasts requires matching the facts about each subject to their corresponding descriptions in the correct answer choice.

Key Concept

Identifying explicitly stated differences in environmental tolerances between two ecological systems.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Comprehending Explicit Comparisons and Contrasts

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