Question

select the text from the paragraph that best helps you understand that deleterious means harmful. there may be more than one correct choice. some of these solar wind particles end up traveling in earth’s direction. if unimpeded, these particles would have deleterious effects on human health, increasing the risk of heart failure and other health problems. but earth’s magnetic poles—located near the geographic north and south poles—create a magnetic field that protects the planet from the solar wind particles. some of these particles, however, do manage to break free and end up colliding with oxygen and nitrogen in earth’s atmosphere. the collisions release energy, thus creating the aurora’s stunning display.

Explanation:

The opening sentence explicitly states that the task is to confirm "deleterious means harmful", and the text immediately links unimpeded solar wind particles to "deleterious effects on human health, increasing the risk of heart failure and other health problems"—directly equating the term to harmful outcomes.

Answer:

The text "increasing the risk of heart failure and other health problems" best helps understand that deleterious means harmful.