PrepTest 153, Section 4, Question 6
Forests are among the world's most valuable resources,(432 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(20 more words not shown)
- ACritics of commercial(12 more words not shown)
- BCritics of commercial(10 more words not shown)
- CCritics of commercial(17 more words not shown)
- DCritics of commercial(15 more words not shown)
- ECritics of commercial(10 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
What do the plantation critics miss? They notice that plantations contain fewer species, but the author points to a benefit outside the plantation: producing wood there reduces pressure to cut natural forest. A plantation can help protect a richer ecosystem without reproducing that ecosystem itself.
What we’re looking for
The author also thinks critics exaggerate the amount of forest occupied by plantations. We should expect an answer urging a fuller understanding, not praising their existing grasp of the situation.
Working the answers
- ACorrect
The relevant relationship is that commercial forests can supply wood that would otherwise be sought from natural forests. That reduces economic pressure on the latter and can preserve their capacity to support biodiversity. Considering only the plantation's own species count misses that connection.
- B
We aren't told these critics fail to recognize medicinal potential. Their concern about biodiversity could be entirely compatible with recognizing it. The author's criticism of their plantation argument doesn't establish this separate gap in their beliefs.
- C
The text doesn't assess their knowledge of photosynthesis or total biomass. Those subjects don't become evidence about the critics' scientific expertise merely because forests are involved.
- D
This praise conflicts with the author's correction of their account. The discussion suggests they need to consider plantations' indirect economic and biological benefit more carefully; it doesn't endorse their understanding of the effects of restricting plantations.
- E
Nothing establishes a broad understanding of global environmental issues. Here, the author challenges the critics' treatment of plantations and the activists' claims about their size. We shouldn't convert that criticism into a general compliment.
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