Defensive Divers Open Response

This passage focuses on the dangers and threats otters face in the wild. Natural predators such as eagles, foxes, coyotes, and orcas hunt otters, while pollution, habitat destruction, and human interference create additional risks. Diseases and infections can also harm otters living in polluted waters. Despite these challenges, otters’ intelligence, teamwork, and adaptability help them survive and maintain balance in their ecosystems.

Reading about predators and threats enhances students’ cause-and-effect reasoning and problem-solution comprehension. It strengthens critical thinking about environmental challenges and helps students build contextual vocabulary related to ecology and survival. This type of text also promotes environmental literacy by connecting reading comprehension with real-world conservation awareness.