Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 21 to 25. Scientists have counted up to 80 polar bears at a time in or near Kaktovik; many look healthy and plump, especially in the early fall, when their (21)______ overlaps with the Inupiat village’s whaling season. But the bears that come here are climate (22)______, on land because the sea ice they rely on for hunting seals is disappearing. The Arctic is warming twice (23)______ the rest of the planet, and the ice cover is retreating at a pace that even the climate scientists who (24)______ the decline find startling. Much of 2016 was warmer than normal, and the freeze-up came late. In November, the extent of Arctic sea ice was lower than (25)______ recorded for that month.   when their (21)______ overlaps with the Inupiat village’s whaling season.

Scientists have counted up to 80 polar bears at a time in or near Kaktovik; many look healthy and plump, especially in the early fall, when their (21)______ overlaps with the Inupiat village’s whaling season.