MSTEP Science Practice Test

Preserving biodiversity based on both intrinsic and utilitarian value means recognizing that species exist for their own sake and also provide essential benefits to ecosystems and people. Intrinsic value is the idea that living beings have worth independent of how useful they might be. Utilitarian value, or ecosystem services, includes pollination, nutrient cycling, water purification, climate regulation, and cultural or recreational benefits. The best statement combines these ideas, saying biodiversity exists for its own sake and provides ecosystem services, and should be preserved. This dual view explains why protecting biodiversity matters: we respect the right of species to exist while also recognizing the practical benefits their diversity provides, like crops that depend on pollinators, forests that store carbon, and ecosystems that recover better from disturbances.