Questions 12-15 refer to the following passage.

It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following situations is a possible contributing factor to coral bleaching?

a. The proliferation of large-scale freight ships in circumtropical regions

b. Modern civilization’s dependence on fossil fuels

c. Tourists’ demand for coral souvenirs

d. Governmental apathy due to more pressing problems

e. Coral’s unusual sensitivity to the vagaries of natural climate changes

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Scientists are growing increasingly concerned that coral, which grows abundantly in the circumtropical shallow waters near bodies of Line land, is evincing a paling, or bleaching effect. (5) Though experts are still at odds over what has precipitated this event, most agree that it is a stress response to changes in habitat and water quality, including temperature variations and sali- nation percentage, and predict a loss of (10) 95 percent of existing coral populations.