- 1. In 'War of the Whales: A True Story', author Joshua Horwitz compellingly narrates the gripping tale of the clash between environmental advocates and naval authorities over the mysterious and tragic stranding of hundreds of whales along the coast of California. Through the eyes of marine biologist Dr. Ken Balcomb and animal rights activist Ric O'Barry, Horwitz explores the profound impact of human activities on marine life, particularly the use of sonar by the U.S. Navy, which is believed to disorient and harm these majestic creatures. As Balcomb and O'Barry work tirelessly to unravel the science behind the strandings and advocate for the protection of marine animals, they face legal battles and institutional resistance, illustrating the broader themes of corporate accountability and the ethical treatment of wildlife. With vivid storytelling and meticulous research, Horwitz not only sheds light on the alarming repercussions of modern warfare on oceanic ecosystems but also inspires readers to consider their role in the fight for conservation and the preservation of Earth's natural wonders.
Who is the marine biologist that first discovers the stranded whales at the beginning of the book?
A) Ken Balcomb
B) Bob Gisiner
C) Joel Reynolds
D) John Hall
- 2. What type of whales were most affected by the mass stranding events described?
A) Beaked whales
B) Orcas
C) Blue whales
D) Humpback whales
- 3. Who is the NRDC attorney who leads the legal battle against the Navy?
A) John Hall
B) Ken Balcomb
C) Joel Reynolds
D) Michael Jasny
- 4. What year did the mass stranding event in the Bahamas occur?
A) 2002
B) 2000
C) 2004
D) 1998
- 5. What scientific evidence linked the whale deaths to naval exercises?
A) Physical trauma from ships
B) Plastic ingestion
C) Chemical contamination
D) Hemorrhaging around ears and brain
- 6. What is the main conflict at the heart of the book?
A) Government secrecy vs. public awareness
B) Military funding vs. academic research
C) Scientific research vs. commercial fishing
D) National security vs. environmental protection
- 7. What role did Ken Balcomb have before becoming a whale researcher?
A) Commercial fisherman
B) Navy pilot
C) Government bureaucrat
D) Oil industry executive
- 8. What role did acoustic trauma play in the whale deaths?
A) Primary cause of strandings
B) Post-mortem artifact
C) Unrelated coincidence
D) Minor contributing factor
- 9. What broader environmental issue does the book connect to whale strandings?
A) Plastic pollution
B) Climate change
C) Overfishing
D) Ocean noise pollution
- 10. What was the Navy's SURTASS program?
A) Shipboard Underwater Radar Technology
B) Submarine Underwater Research Technology
C) Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System
D) Surface Tracking and Sonar System
- 11. What is the primary setting where the events of 'War of the Whales' begin?
A) California coast
B) Gulf of Mexico
C) Antarctic waters
D) The Bahamas
- 12. What scientific method did researchers use to identify the cause of whale deaths?
A) Necropsy analysis
B) Water sampling
C) Satellite tracking
D) DNA testing
- 13. Where did Balcomb establish his whale research station?
A) Bahamas
B) San Juan Island
C) Alaska
D) Monterey Bay
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