There is a possibility I that some species may become . in the near future if we do not take action to protect them. extinct endangered arid wild

The sentence is discussing the potential fate of some species in the near future if protective measures are not taken. The most appropriate word to fill in the blank is "extinct," which refers to the state of a species when it no longer exists. The other options do not fit the context of the sentence. "Endangered" refers to a species that is at risk of becoming extinct but is not yet extinct. "Arid" refers to a dry, barren climate, and "wild" refers to a natural, untamed state. Therefore, the correct answer is "extinct."