When it is too unsafe to explore the island, what evidence does Zoe say the Sherlock Society needs to find?

• A. Who dumped the hazardous materials
• B. Where the materials were dumped
• C. What caused the island to be unsafe
• D. How many animals died

Answer: (A)

When safety is a concern and you can’t safely search the site, the most important clue is identifying who dumped the hazardous materials. Finding out the person responsible shifts the response from just describing what happened to taking action: authorities can be alerted, accountability is established, and measures can be taken to stop the ongoing harm and prevent a repeat. Knowing who did it directly addresses the threat and helps guide the next steps for safety and remediation.

If you try to focus on where the materials were dumped, what caused the island to be unsafe, or how many animals died, you get valuable information about the effects or locations, but none of these alone solves the immediate problem of stopping the hazard or bringing the responsible party to account. Pinpointing the person behind the dumping is the clearest path to accountability and safer action.