Difficulty: Hard

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I sit on the headlands of Neah Bay, Washington, and watch a mother humpback and her calf slip through the icy Pacific waters. I recognize this whale by her distinctive tail pattern, as unique to this humpback as my fingerprints are to me. Once, heavy hunting using harpoons extirpated the species from the region, and only a ban on whaling allowed populations of humpbacks to recover. As this gray female rises to the surface, she exhales, sending up a spout nearly 20 feet high. She rolls on her side and lifts her scalloped-edge flipper in salute, then slaps it on the water. I adjust my lens and take my shot. This is the only type of whale hunting I find acceptable- hunting with a camera.

What is the main idea conveyed in the passage?

Rationale

Humpback whale populations have rebounded after nearly being eradicated.

The main idea expressed in the passage is about the resurgence of humpback whales from the brink of eradication. This is the primary theme that runs through the text and it's the main point that the author wants to communicate to the readers.

A (Humpback whales are commonly found in the waters near Washington.) YOUR ANSWER

This choice is incorrect because while the passage may mention the presence of humpback whales in the waters near Washington, it does not emphasize this as the main idea. The focus is not on their geographical distribution but on their population recovery.

B (Humpback whale populations have rebounded after nearly being eradicated.) CORRECT

This is the correct answer. The main idea conveyed in the passage is the recovery of humpback whale populations from near eradication. This theme recurs throughout the text and forms the basis of the author's discussion.

C (The author has never encountered this specific humpback whale before.) YOUR ANSWER

This choice is incorrect as it focuses on a minute detail which is not the main idea of the passage. The author's personal encounter with a specific humpback whale does not represent the overarching theme of the passage.

D (Both cameras and harpoons are utilized for hunting humpback whales.) YOUR ANSWER

This choice is incorrect because the passage does not primarily discuss hunting methods for humpback whales. Such a topic would diverge from the main idea, which is the recovery of humpback whale populations.

Conclusion

The main idea conveyed in the passage is the recovery of humpback whale populations from the brink of eradication. The other choices—A), C), and D)—focus on minor details or unrelated aspects that do not capture the main theme of the passage. The author's primary intention is to illustrate the resurgence of this species, making answer B) the correct choice.

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