Question

puget sound is a body of water off the u.s. state of washington. orcas live there. but the orcas in puget sound are endangered. they could die out. scientists wanted to know why, so they did a study. the study took place over four years. researchers on boats followed the orcas. they gathered samples of the animals breath. how did scientists do this? they waited for the orcas to swim to the top of the water. then scientists caught droplets that sprayed out of the animals blowholes. scientists studied the droplets and found that they contained microbes. some of the microbes were healthy. but others can cause disease. research in the water learned that these microbes are coming from pollution. such pollution is runoff from question 7 which quote from the article best shows why scientists are worried? a. scientists studied the droplets and found that they contained microbes. some of the microbes were healthy. b. each orca has a name and a number. scientists can tell them apart by their markings and fin shapes. c. researchers on boats followed the orcas. they gathered samples of the animals breath. d. if the orcas immune systems become weakened for any reason, they could become sick, said stephen raverty, the studys lead author.

Explanation:

El artículo menciona que los orcas en el estuario de Puget Sound están en peligro y los científicos estudiaron los microbios en las gotas de aliento de los orcas para entender por qué podrían estar muriendo. La opción D muestra que si el sistema inmunológico de los orcas se debilita, podrían enfermarse, lo cual explica por qué los científicos están preocupados.

Answer:

D. If the orcas' immune systems become weakened for any reason, they could become sick, said Stephen Raverty, the study's lead author.