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The Coral Reefs of the Caribbean
Visualize being submerged in the most (1) absolute silence to contemplate the majestic coral reefs. In the Caribbean Sea there are more than 16 thousand square miles (26 thousand square kilometers) of reefs, also known as “tropical rainforests of the sea” because of their immense biodiversity. Their extravagant, intense colors provide the ideal ecosystem for the over four thousand species of fish and thousands of species of plants that are found there.
Our lives, too, depend on these (2) formations: the coral reefs of the Caribbean protect the coasts of Florida and the Caribbean nations from hurricanes. Their enormous structures weaken the force of the storms before they arrive to the coasts, acting as natural barriers. They also protect beaches from erosion and are a refuge for many species of (3) endangered animals.
In the far eastern periphery of Cuba, the María la Gorda reef stands out from the others. In this highly protected zone, there are more than 20 species of corals that form (4) subterranean “mountain ranges”, caves, and tunnels.
Unfortunately, the reefs in the Caribbean are in danger due to acts of destruction. Coastal construction and water pollution cause the water to cloud, which in turn takes away the light that the coral needs to survive. Other enemies to the coral are uncontrolled fishing, (5) excessive tourism, and the collecting of coral by scuba divers. Some experts say that 70% of the coral will disappear in some 40 years. If you are lucky enough to visit these coral reefs, please protect them. Their future depends on us.
According to the author, which of the following is a reason that our livelihood depends on coral reefs?
DOMA and Its Demise
Many same-sex couples, as well their allies, celebrated when “The Defense of Marriage Act”, known as DOMA, was overturned by the Supreme Court in the summer of 2013. Homosexual couples, who were legally recognized as a (1) union in their state of residence, were finally able to enjoy the same benefits at the national level that their heterosexual counterparts have always enjoyed. Nevertheless, the United States has a long way to go before marriage equality is universal.
DOMA was a (2) federal law that was first enacted in 1996 by the Clinton Administration. It sought to block same-sex couples that were legally married (in states that recognized same-sex marriages), from receiving federal marriage benefits. Under DOMA, the government determined that the word “spouse” was to refer to a heterosexual married couple, thus effectively excluding same-sex spouses from the laws applicable to opposite-sex spouses. Therefore, heterosexual married couples were protected under federal law and homosexual married couples were left unprotected.
Countless same-sex couples felt (3) discriminated against under DOMA and believed that the law was (4) unconstitutional. The Obama Administration, years later, decided it would no longer justify DOMA in court. During the first year of Obama’s second term in office, the law was struck down, and now same-sex couples, who reside in states like Hawaii and Iowa, share the same federal benefits as opposite-sex couples. However, until all of the states in the Union make same-sex marriage legal, the US will not get first place in the (5) race toward equality for everyone.
The term “race”, in bold after the (5) in the third paragraph, is closet in meaning to
The Coral Reefs of the Caribbean
isualize being submerged in the most (1) absolute silence to contemplate the majestic coral reefs. In the Caribbean Sea there are more than 16 thousand square miles (26 thousand square kilometers) of reefs, also known as “tropical rainforests of the sea” because of their immense biodiversity. Their extravagant, intense colors provide the ideal ecosystem for the over four thousand species of fish and thousands of species of plants that are found there.
Our lives, too, depend on these (2) formations: the coral reefs of the Caribbean protect the coasts of Florida and the Caribbean nations from hurricanes. Their enormous structures weaken the force of the storms before they arrive to the coasts, acting as natural barriers. They also protect beaches from erosion and are a refuge for many species of (3) endangered animals.
In the far eastern periphery of Cuba, the María la Gorda reef stands out from the others. In this highly protected zone, there are more than 20 species of corals that form (4) subterranean “mountain ranges”, caves, and tunnels.
Unfortunately, the reefs in the Caribbean are in danger due to acts of destruction. Coastal construction and water pollution cause the water to cloud, which in turn takes away the light that the coral needs to survive. Other enemies to the coral are uncontrolled fishing, (5) excessive tourism, and the collecting of coral by scuba divers. Some experts say that 70% of the coral will disappear in some 40 years. If you are lucky enough to visit these coral reefs, please protect them. Their future depends on us.
The word “endangered”, bolded after the (3) in the second paragraph, can best be defined as
DOMA and Its Demise
any same-sex couples, as well their allies, celebrated when “The Defense of Marriage Act”, known as DOMA, was overturned by the Supreme Court in the summer of 2013. Homosexual couples, who were legally recognized as a (1) union in their state of residence, were finally able to enjoy the same benefits at the national level that their heterosexual counterparts have always enjoyed. Nevertheless, the United States has a long way to go before marriage equality is universal.
DOMA was a (2) federal law that was first enacted in 1996 by the Clinton Administration. It sought to block same-sex couples that were legally married (in states that recognized same-sex marriages), from receiving federal marriage benefits. Under DOMA, the government determined that the word “spouse” was to refer to a heterosexual married couple, thus effectively excluding same-sex spouses from the laws applicable to opposite-sex spouses. Therefore, heterosexual married couples were protected under federal law and homosexual married couples were left unprotected.
Countless same-sex couples felt (3) discriminated against under DOMA and believed that the law was (4) unconstitutional. The Obama Administration, years later, decided it would no longer justify DOMA in court. During the first year of Obama’s second term in office, the law was struck down, and now same-sex couples, who reside in states like Hawaii and Iowa, share the same federal benefits as opposite-sex couples. However, until all of the states in the Union make same-sex marriage legal, the US will not get first place in the (5) race toward equality for everyone.
According to the passage, the reason that “spouse” was determined by the Clinton Administration to refer to opposite-sex married couples was...
The Coral Reefs of the Caribbean
Visualize being submerged in the most (1) absolute silence to contemplate the majestic coral reefs. In the Caribbean Sea there are more than 16 thousand square miles (26 thousand square kilometers) of reefs, also known as “tropical rainforests of the sea” because of their immense biodiversity. Their extravagant, intense colors provide the ideal ecosystem for the over four thousand species of fish and thousands of species of plants that are found there.
Our lives, too, depend on these (2) formations: the coral reefs of the Caribbean protect the coasts of Florida and the Caribbean nations from hurricanes. Their enormous structures weaken the force of the storms before they arrive to the coasts, acting as natural barriers. They also protect beaches from erosion and are a refuge for many species of (3) endangered animals.
In the far eastern periphery of Cuba, the María la Gorda reef stands out from the others. In this highly protected zone, there are more than 20 species of corals that form (4) subterranean “mountain ranges”, caves, and tunnels.
Unfortunately, the reefs in the Caribbean are in danger due to acts of destruction. Coastal construction and water pollution cause the water to cloud, which in turn takes away the light that the coral needs to survive. Other enemies to the coral are uncontrolled fishing, (5) excessive tourism, and the collecting of coral by scuba divers. Some experts say that 70% of the coral will disappear in some 40 years. If you are lucky enough to visit these coral reefs, please protect them. Their future depends on us.
In paragraph 4, why does the author mention the different acts of destruction?
