Passage: In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Climate change is one of the 1._____ challenges of our time. The increase in global temperatures 2._____ severe weather events, rising sea levels, and changes in precipitation patterns. Governments around the world 3._____ policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Individual actions, such as reducing energy consumption and recycling, 4._____ also important. Together, we can 5._____ the impact of climate change. Question: Select the most appropriate option to fill in blank 4.

1. are
2. were
3. is
4. was