Civil Service Exam Reviewer · Reading Comprehension · medium

Protecting Tubbataha Reefs

Located in the middle of the Sulu Sea, the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is one of the most biologically diverse marine areas in the world. Its coral reefs shelter hundreds of species of fish, corals, sea turtles, sharks, and seabirds. In recognition of its exceptional ecological value, Tubbataha was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Unlike many reefs that suffer from overfishing and destructive fishing practices, Tubbataha has been strictly protected as a no-take zone, meaning that fishing and the harvesting of marine life are prohibited. Park rangers, drawn from the navy, the coast guard, and local government, stay on a remote ranger station for months at a time to monitor the area. The results have been remarkable: studies show that fish populations inside the park are far denser than in unprotected areas, and the abundance spills over into surrounding fishing grounds. Nonetheless, Tubbataha remains vulnerable to threats that cannot be stopped by patrols alone, such as coral bleaching caused by rising sea temperatures and occasional ship groundings that crush fragile corals.

According to the passage, what does a "no-take zone" mean?

  1. An area where only tourists may swim
  2. An area where ships cannot pass at night
  3. An area reserved for research vessels
  4. An area where fishing and harvesting of marine life are prohibited

Answer

D. An area where fishing and harvesting of marine life are prohibited

Solution

The passage defines a no-take zone as one where fishing and harvesting are prohibited.

More Reading Comprehension questions

  1. What is the passage mainly about?
  2. According to the critics mentioned in the passage, the law's effectiveness depends mainly on .
  3. Which of the following is NOT one of the norms of conduct listed in the passage?
  4. As used in the passage, the word "yardstick" most nearly means .
  5. According to the passage, why are public servants required to file statements of assets, liabilities and net worth?
  6. What is the passage mainly about?
  7. The author's attitude toward the language debate can best be described as .
  8. What difficulty do critics of mother tongue-based instruction point out?
  9. As used in the passage, the word "proponents" most nearly means .
  10. According to the passage, what are the official languages of the Philippines under the 1987 Constitution?

All Reading Comprehension Reviewer questions