What is true about the 2020 bloom severity relative to 2019?

• A. It was greater than 2019
• B. It was equal to 2019
• C. It was slightly less than 2019
• D. It was much smaller than 2019

Answer: (D)

Bloom severity is compared by looking at how intense the bloom was in each year. If the data show that the severity in 2020 is clearly lower than in 2019, and the drop is substantial, the best description is that 2020 was much smaller. This reflects a noticeable decrease in bloom intensity from 2019 to 2020, rather than an equal or only slight change, or an increase. The other possibilities would imply little or no difference, or an increase, which doesn’t match what the data show.