Questions 1-11 are based on the following passage and supplementary material. 

Shedding Light on Glowing Coral 

Some corals are fluorescent, (1) this means that they absorb one color of light and emit a different one. Scientists have learned that shallow-water corals fluoresce as part of a symbiotic, or mutually beneficial, relationship with algae living inside (2) it. By absorbing potentially harmful ultraviolet light and emitting safer pink or purple light, fluorescent corals effectively provide a sunblock for the (3) algae. The algae produce oxygen and other products that the corals need through photosynthesis. However, this finding does not explain why corals in deeper (4) water; where sunlight is less intense, also fluoresce. 

Hoping to shed light on this mystery, a team of marine biologists from England and Israel began studying the chlorophyll (light-absorbing pigments involved in photosynthesis) within symbiotic algae. They exposed a sample of coral to different colors of light, finding that blue light-the most (5) lavish color of light in deep water-only reached chlorophyll close to the surface of the coral. However, red-orange light--the color emitted by deep water corals--penetrated farther into the coral tissue, reaching more of the chlorophyll inside. The team therefore (6) hypothesized: that deepwater corals' conversion of blue light into red-orange light maximizes photosynthesis in the symbiotic algae, contributing to better overall coral survival.

[1] To test this hypothesis, the research team conducted a two-year experiment that compared the survival of fluorescent and nonfluorescent specimens from the genus Echinophyllia under conditions that simulated deep water light. [2] After 12 months, the fluorescent Echinophyllia were (7) deteriorating, but only about 80 percent of the nonfluorescent Echinophyllia survived. [3] Around the 19-month mark, the nonfluorescent Echinophyllia had dwindled to about (8) 30 percent of their original amount. [4] By 22 months, the nonfluorescent Echinophyllia had died off completely, while 100 percent of the fluorescent Echinophyllia still lived. [5] These results suggest that the red-orange glow of deepwater corals might indeed be a symbiotic survival mechanism, just like (9) those of corals in shallow waters. (10)

The researchers hope that their findings can be used to improve coral conservation plans. (11) For example, some plans propose moving threatened shallow-water corals to deep waters, but this study suggests that without the right fluorescent pigments, those corals might not survive relocation. Therefore, as team member Jorg Wiedenmann points out, "it is of [the] utmost importance [that] we do our best to keep their homes in shallow water habitable." 

Questions 12-22 are based on the following passage. 

Thinking Small and Going Green 

  In today's marketplace, there is a growing (12) demand for: environmentally friendly business practices. According to a 2009 survey by the Boston Consulting Group, 73 percent of consumers think it is important for companies to have good environmental records. (13) Though there is limited evidence that greening initiatives increase employee morale, small businesses also stand to gain by going green: a 2014 University of Arkansas study found that the benefits of environmental initiatives were actually higher for small businesses (14) than for Fortune 500 companies. Measures to reduce resource consumption can help small businesses both directly, by lowering costs and raising revenues, and indirectly, by attracting new customers and even employees.

(15) Founded in 1976, AJ's Auto Repair is a shop that has succeeded in improving its bottom line through an eco-friendly approach. By burning used oil for heat instead of (16) chucking it out, the company saves up to $10,000 per year. Indeed, AJ's (17) has saved a total of more than $200,000 over a ten-year period from its greening efforts. Moreover, the AJ's example shows that companies can actually make money while generating less waste. AJ's recently participated in a program that provided environmentally safe trunk light switches to customers. The first ninety people who came in for a free switch replacement ended up spending over $26,000 in other repairs.

Another small business that has made sustainability profitable is Transcendentist, a dental practice in Berkeley, California. While most dental offices rely on wasteful disposable products, (18) Transcendentist, however, introduced a line of reusable supplies, including cotton cloth headrests. Not only does Transcendentist save money by cutting spending on disposable products, it also profits by selling its reusable products to dentists across the country. 

 Green initiatives also strengthen a company's image, (19) which can yield tangible benefits. The founder of AJ's, Bob (20) Anderson estimates, that the company's green reputation has increased its customer base by at least 18 percent. (21) Anderson ensures that the company stays in compliance with government regulations. Companies with eco-friendly practices appeal not only to environmentally conscious clientele but also to (22) perspective employees: according to a recent MonsterTRAK poll, 92 percent of young professionals desire to work at companies perceived as environmentally mindful. In an economy where companies can no longer afford to ignore their environmental footprints, cutting down on resource use is a feasible, and ultimately profitable, step.