War Of The Whales by Joshua Horwitz
- 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) John Hall
B) Ken Balcomb
C) Bob Gisiner
D) Joel Reynolds
- 2. What type of whales were most affected by the mass stranding events described?
A) Beaked whales
B) Blue whales
C) Humpback whales
D) Orcas
- 3. Who is the NRDC attorney who leads the legal battle against the Navy?
A) Michael Jasny
B) Joel Reynolds
C) John Hall
D) Ken Balcomb
- 4. What year did the mass stranding event in the Bahamas occur?
A) 2004
B) 2000
C) 1998
D) 2002
- 5. What scientific evidence linked the whale deaths to naval exercises?
A) Plastic ingestion
B) Physical trauma from ships
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) National security vs. environmental protection
C) Scientific research vs. commercial fishing
D) Military funding vs. academic research
- 7. What role did Ken Balcomb have before becoming a whale researcher?
A) Commercial fisherman
B) Government bureaucrat
C) Oil industry executive
D) Navy pilot
- 8. What role did acoustic trauma play in the whale deaths?
A) Unrelated coincidence
B) Minor contributing factor
C) Post-mortem artifact
D) Primary cause of strandings
- 9. What broader environmental issue does the book connect to whale strandings?
A) Plastic pollution
B) Ocean noise pollution
C) Climate change
D) Overfishing
- 10. What was the Navy's SURTASS program?
A) Surface Tracking and Sonar System
B) Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System
C) Shipboard Underwater Radar Technology
D) Submarine Underwater Research Technology
- 11. What is the primary setting where the events of 'War of the Whales' begin?
A) Antarctic waters
B) The Bahamas
C) Gulf of Mexico
D) California coast
- 12. What scientific method did researchers use to identify the cause of whale deaths?
A) Satellite tracking
B) Water sampling
C) Necropsy analysis
D) DNA testing
- 13. Where did Balcomb establish his whale research station?
A) Monterey Bay
B) San Juan Island
C) Alaska
D) Bahamas
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