Question 16.

Option D is the correct answer.

Option D captures the main idea of the passage. It reflects the near-extinction of the western barred bandicoot due to invasive species and highlights the conservation efforts using survivors from Shark Bay islands.

Option A: This is not entirely true. The western barred bandicoot did not go extinct; instead, it survived in small numbers on two predator-free islands. This option incorrectly asserts total extinction and ignores the ongoing efforts to revive the species.

Option B: This is a distortion. While the colonists' negligence and the nicknames they gave reflect their disregard, the passage clearly attributes the near-extinction of bandicoots to ecological disruptions caused by invasive species, not merely the colonists' attitudes.

Option C: This generalizes the issue and does not focus specifically on the western barred bandicoot, the subject of the passage. Furthermore, it does not highlight the rescue efforts which are central to the passage.