多选题The 1973 Endangered Species Act made into legal policy the concept that endangered species of wildlife are precious as part of a natural ecosystem. The nearly unanimous passage of this act in the United States Congress, reflecting the rising national popularity of environmentalism, masked a bitter debate. Affected industries clung to the former wildlife policy of valuing individual species according to their economic usefulness. They fought to minimize the law's impact by limiting definitions of key terms, but they lost on nearly every issue. The act defined "wildlife" as almost all kinds of animals--from large mammals to invertebrates and plants. "Taking" wildlife was defined broadly as any action that threatened an endangered species; {{U}}areas vital to a species' survival could be federally protected as "critical habitats".{{/U}} Though these definitions legislated strong environmentalist goals, political compromises made in the enforcement of the act were to determine just what economic interests would be set aside for the sake of ecological stabilization. According to the passage, which of the following does the Endangered Species Act define as a "critical habitat"? A. A natural ecosystem that is threatened by imminent development. B. An industrial or urban area in which wildlife species have almost ceased to live among humans. C. A natural area that is crucial to the survival of a species and thus eligible for federal protection. D. A wilderness area in which the "taking" of wildlife species is permitted rarely and only under strict federal regulation. E. A natural environment that is protected under law because its wildlife has a high economic value.

多选题Because the perfumer possessed an unusually sensitive nose, he had the ability to ______ subtle variations in even the most complex odors.

多选题The sound produced by the youth orchestra was so ______ that even its least experienced members were abashed.

多选题Directions: Each of the following sentences or groups of sentences contains one, two, or three blanks. These blanks signify that a word or set of words has been left out, Below each sentence are columns of words or sets of words. For each blank, pick the one word or set of words from the corresponding column that best completes the text.

多选题The study of biology, once considered the key to solving nature"s mysteries, has instead served to emphasize nature"s incredible ______.

多选题Horgan argues that many scientists today are gripped by a profound unease, ______ that results from current social uncertainties.

多选题Guests at the party found the general merriment infectious and were won over by the party"s ______.

多选题Though usually ______ in her praise, the teacher was ______ in acknowledging Chandra"s achievements: she could not say enough positive things.

多选题A judicious biography must be ______ representation that depicts both the strengths and the weaknesses of the subject, avoiding the two extremes of ______ and indictment.

多选题Toughened hiring standards have not been the primary cause of the present staffing shortage in public schools. The shortage of teachers is primarily caused by the fact that in recent years teachers have not experienced any improvements in working conditions and their salaries have not kept pace with salaries in other professions. Which of the following, if true, would most support the claims above? A. Many teachers already in the profession would not have been hired under the new hiring standards. B. Today more teachers are with a higher educational level than in the past. C. Some teachers have cited higher standards for hiring as a reason for the current staffing shortage. D. Many teachers have cited low pay and lack of professional freedom as reasons for their leaving the profession. E. Many prospective teachers have cited the new hiring standards as a reason for not entering the profession.

多选题Elena, who strongly favored the proposal, was understandably ______ when an influential committee member expressed a view ______ to her own.

多选题The biographer now displays greater ______ in her work: she explores the feelings and motives of her subjects with deeper insight than she once did.

多选题The ______ of impact craters on Venus suggests that erosion may have smoothed its surface over the past billion years.

多选题Unlike Colin, whose ______ for dramatic presentation captivated his audiences, Nick was not ______ speaker.

多选题A long-standing theory about the migration of green turtles was ______ by an innovative marine biologist who graciously defused potential ______ by dedicating her work to the original researcher.

多选题The first Moon explorers were rarely expansive in describing their surroundings: on the contrary their reports tended to be ______.

多选题Some interactive computer games are so elaborately contrived and require such ______ strategies that only the most ______ player can master them.

多选题The widely documented ______ between these two diseases has prompted scientists to undertake studies to determine if treating one can ______ the other.

多选题Doug was both ______ and ______; he possessed penetrating acuity and discernment and was also extremely humble.

多选题The breathing spell provided by the ______ arms shipments should give all the combatants a chance to reevaluate their positions. A. plethora of B. moratorium on C. reciprocation of D. concentration on E. development of