What does the text suggest about the impact of airborne pollutants on Tule geese?

• A. They positively affected migration duration.
• B. They negatively affected the migration duration.
• C. They had no impact on migration.
• D. They improved flight efficiency.

Answer: (B)

Airborne pollutants can add physiological stress for migratory birds, increasing energy requirements during long flights. For Tule geese, breathing polluted air can irritate the respiratory system and reduce oxygen efficiency, making each leg of the journey more taxing. This extra burden tends to slow the overall migration, either by prolonging flight time or forcing more frequent stopovers, so the overall duration becomes longer. The option describing a negative impact on migration duration best matches this pattern of effects, whereas suggesting a positive effect, no impact, or improved flight efficiency would not fit what the text conveys about pollutant exposure.