Directions: Read the given passage carefully to answer the following questions. Each question will have five alternatives as its answer. Choose the correct option as your answer.
When Arthur, a young oceanography researcher, decided to spend his summer break traveling across the coast, his primary goal was to visit his childhood friend, Jack Costner. Jack, a retired Navy officer who had served decades at sea, lived in a secluded coastal township dedicated entirely to marine research and deep-sea exploration. Arthur had always been fascinated by Jack's transition from tactical military operation to civilian oceanographic studies, but nothing prepared him for what Jack had accomplished since his retirement. Upon arriving at Jack's private dock, Arthur was introduced to the Nautilus II, a custom-engineered mini-submarine that Jack had spent three years designing and building by hand. Driven by his lifelong interest in oceanography, Jack had built the submersible to study bathyal zone ecosystems, deep regions of the ocean that remain largely unexplored due to extreme pressure and pitch-black darkness. Jack explained that standard oceanographic vessels were often too costly to hire, prompting him to construct a reliable vessel that could enable independent marine biologists to gather data directly from underwater trenches.
The pair _________ on a brief trial dive off the continental shelf. As the submarine descended, the blue sunlit water dissolved into an ink-black abyss. Arthur watched the digital depth gauge with a mix of awe and anxiety as they plunged down toward the ocean floor. At the height of their descent, nearly 2,000 meters below the surface, the submarine’s exterior lights illuminated a vibrant ecosystem: deep-sea cold seeps surrounded by unique tube worms, bioluminescent crustaceans, and delicate deep-sea corals. Jack pointed out that many commercial enterprises frequently attempt to exploit these sensitive deep-sea habitats for rare mineral deposits, often destroying irreplaceable marine biodiversity in the process. His goal in building the submarine was not commercial gain, but conservation, providing accessible data to push for protected marine sanctuaries. For Arthur, the travel experience was not merely a reunion with an old friend; it was a profound shift in how he viewed the future of marine science and environmental stewardship.
According to the passage, what was Arthur's primary goal when traveling across the coast?
- AOption (a)
To conduct independent research on bathyal ecosystems
- BOption (b)
To visit his childhood friend, Jack Costner
- COption (c)
To document commercial mineral extraction
- DOption (d)
To hire an expensive oceanographic vessel
- EOption (e)
To map deep-sea underwater trenches
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Correct answer
To conduct independent research on bathyal ecosystems