Question

which word could best replace the word plummeted in paragraph 7?
○ lost
○ forced
○ fell
○ noticed

reading passage
7 by 1979, there were only 1.3 million african elephants left. although the demand for ivory in the west was now falling, in asia, demand was skyrocketing. ivory products, long a symbol of wealth and prestige in china, were sought after like never before. the number of african elephants plummeted to 600,000 by 1989.
the united nations acts
8 people around the globe began to notice and to speak out against the possible disappearance (or extinction) of the african elephant. finally, the world acted. in 1990, the convention on international trade in endangered species (cites), a united nations effort, banned the ivory trade worldwide. as a result, elephants started to make a comeback; by 1999, their population had returned to approximately one million.
9 unfortunately, saving elephants had a negative economic effect on some people. is

Explanation:

To find the best replacement for "plummeted", we analyze the context: the number of African elephants went from 1.3 million (1979) to 600,000 (1989), showing a sharp decrease. "Lost" implies misplacement, "forced" is about coercion, "noticed" is about awareness—none fit. "Fell" means to drop/decrease, matching "plummeted" (a steep drop).

Answer:

C. fell