How much oil was spilled by the Exxon Valdez?

• A. 5 million gallons
• B. 20 million gallons
• C. 11 million gallons
• D. 50 million gallons

Answer: (C)

The amount spilled is a specific historical fact about a major environmental disaster. The Exxon Valdez released about 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound, Alaska, in 1989 after the tanker struck a reef. This figure—roughly 260,000 barrels—is the widely cited official estimate and sits between smaller and much larger pretend figures, which is why it’s the correct choice. It’s a number groups remember because it underscores the scale of the spill and the sweeping cleanup and policy changes that followed.