Five statements are given about the state of the world’s oceans. Four of them form a coherent paragraph describing how the ocean has been mistreated. From the given options, choose the statement that does NOT fit logically into this passage.

Introduction / Context:
This is an “odd sentence out” question based on a short thematic passage. All four options talk about the ocean and how humans have behaved towards it. Your task is to identify which sentence breaks the main flow of the paragraph and therefore does not fit as neatly with the others. The skill being tested is your ability to see the underlying structure of an argument or description.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Option A: Recent global cooperation on ocean issues is welcome.
• Option B: The ocean has suffered decades of abuse and neglect.
• Option C: The ocean has been treated as a free-for-all garbage bin and a race-to-the-bottom buffet.
• Option D: We have financed its destruction, with no regard for the consequences.
• All refer to the ocean and human actions or attitudes towards it.

Concept / Approach:
First, identify the central theme. Statements B, C and D all emphasise long-term, negative treatment of the ocean: abuse, neglect, using it as a dumping ground, exploiting resources, and even financially supporting destructive activities. They describe the problem and its causes. Statement A, however, shifts the tone to something positive: recent global cooperation and its welcome nature. While related to the same broad topic, it functions more like a conclusion or a new paragraph that shifts from “problem description” to “solution or hope”. In a question asking for the one sentence that does not fit into a single coherent passage, A stands out.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Group B, C, D: all focus on the severity and nature of the ocean's mistreatment.Statement B opens with “The ocean has suffered decades of abuse and neglect” – a natural introduction to the problem.Statement C elaborates with vivid metaphors: a garbage bin and a race-to-the-bottom buffet.Statement D continues the same negative tone: we financed its destruction with no regard for consequences.Together, B, C and D form a grim, unified picture of human abuse of the ocean.Statement A, however, introduces “global cooperation” and calls it “certainly welcome”, which is a shift towards solution and optimism.Hence, A does not belong in the same tight descriptive paragraph; it belongs in a follow-up paragraph about remedies.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can construct a coherent paragraph with B, C, and D: “The ocean has suffered decades of abuse and neglect. It has been treated as a free-for-all garbage bin and race-to-the-bottom buffet. We have financed its destruction, with no regard for the consequences.” This forms a complete, logical description of the problem. If you then add A, it sounds like a new idea or conclusion beginning a second paragraph: after describing how bad things are, the writer shifts to welcome global cooperation. Because the question wants four sentences in one coherent passage, the “hopeful” sentence is the odd one out.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Removing B would deprive the passage of a strong opening. Removing C would drop vivid detail that supports the claim of abuse. Removing D would remove the important point about financial support for destructive practices. Each of B, C and D is firmly rooted in describing the harm done to the ocean, while A moves into the different territory of solutions and global effort.

Common Pitfalls:
Since all four sentences involve the ocean, some students conclude that no statement is odd. However, paragraph-based questions often hinge on tone shifts. Learn to notice when the author suddenly moves from “problem description” to “solution or hope”. That shift usually marks a new paragraph and can signal the odd sentence when only one paragraph is expected.

Final Answer:
The statement that does not fit the core descriptive passage is “The global cooperation that has emerged lately is certainly welcome.”