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RC · Reading Comprehension

sub-505

Short Passage - Humanities

Reading Passage

The argument for “monetizing”—or putting a monetary value on—ecosystem functions may be stated thus: Concern about the depletion of natural resources is widespread, but this concern, in the absence of an economic argument for conservation, has not translated into significant conservational progress. Some critics blame this impasse on environmentalists, whom they believe fail to address the economic issues of environmental degradation. Conservation can appear unprofitable when compared with the economic returns derived from converting natural assets (pristine coastlines, for example) into explicitly commercial ones (such as resort hotels). But according to David Pearce, that illusion stems from the fact that “services” provided by ecological systems are not traded on the commodities market, and thus have no readily quantifiable value. To remedy this, says Pearce, one has to show that all ecosystems have economic value—indeed, that all ecological services are economic services. Tourists visiting wildlife preserves, for example, create jobs and generate income for national economies; undisturbed forests and wetlands regulate water runoff and act as water-purifying systems, saving millions of dollars worth of damage to property and to marine ecosystems. In Gretchen Daily’s view, monetization, while unpopular with many environmentalists, reflects the dominant role that economic considerations play in human behavior, and the expression of economic value in a common currency helps inform environmental decision-making processes.

Which of the following can be inferred from the passage concerning the environmentalists mentioned in line 8?

Answer Choices

Correct answer marked below

A

They are organized in opposition to the generation of income produced by the sale of ecological services.

B

They are fewer in number but better organized and better connected to the media than their opponents.

They have sometimes been charged with failing to use a particular strategy in their pursuit of conservational goals.

Correct

D

They have been in the forefront of publicizing the extent of worldwide environmental degradation.

E

They define environmental progress differently and more conservatively than do other organized groups of environmentalists.

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Comments

3

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N

Nguyen5d ago

thanks, this one was quick once I found the right line

V

VictoriaJul 24

wait, how do we know it's about a strategy they DIDN'T use? I keep rereading line 8 and I'm not seeing the 'charged with' part.

B

BatJul 26

it's inferred, not stated outright — the passage implies critics faulted them for not going a certain route, so 'charged with failing to use a particular strategy' fits that

Y

YudhishthirMay 15

C felt like the only one I could actually support with the text. A is weirdly specific about income, and E is just too strong with 'more conservatively.'

Reading Passage

Which of the following can be inferred from the passage concerning the environmentalists mentioned in line 8?

Answer Choices

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