32me p, lease joan represents the height at which a sea gull is flying at +6 feet and the depth at which a fish is swimming at −2 feet on a number line, where 0 represents the surface of the water. which of these explains whether the sea gull or the fish is closer to the surface of the water? the fish is closer to the surface of the water because |+6| = 6 and − |−2| = −2, and −2 < 6. the fish is closer to the surface of the water because |+6| = 6 and |−2| = 2, and 2 < 6. the sea gull is closer to the surface of the water because |+6| = −6 and |−2| = −2, and −2 > −6. the sea gull is closer to the surface of the water because |+6| = 6 and − |−2| = 2, and 6 > 2.