SAT OwlSea otters eat large numbers of sea urchins, which feed on kelp. Where sea otters were hunted nearly to extinction in the nineteenth century, urchin populations exploded and many kelp forests disappeared. In areas where otters have since returned, ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
kelp forests have disappeared even faster than before.
kelp forests have often begun to recover as urchin numbers decline.
sea urchins have begun to prey on sea otters.
otters have stopped eating sea urchins.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B
The chain is: otters eat urchins, and urchins eat kelp. Losing otters let urchins multiply and destroy kelp. Reversing the first link should reverse the rest, so returning otters should reduce urchins and let kelp recover, as choice B states.
Choice A reverses the logic; more otters means fewer urchins, which should help kelp, not harm it.
Got it wrong? On SAT Owl, Owl looks at the answer you chose and explains the exact mistake, then gives you similar questions until it sticks. Get your predicted SAT score free.