a volcano in Hawaii erupting the construction of the Hoover Dam whalers of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries the Mississippi River flooding its banks each summer
I gave my students this multiple choice question: Of the examples listed, which event is thought by scientists to have led to the greatest extinction?

Only one answer is correct among these 4 choices:
- a volcano in Hawaii erupting
- the construction of the Hoover Dam
- whalers of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries
- the Mississippi River flooding its banks each summer

Could you tell me which one is correct?

whalers of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries