Question

Based on the passage, we can infer that the author would be most supportive of which one of the following practices?

• A. The localised, small-scale development of renewable energy systems.
• B. More stringent global policies and regulations to ensure a more just system of toxic waste disposal.
• C. Encouragement for the development of more environment-friendly carbon-based fuels.
• D. The study of the coexistence of marginalised people with their environments.
• A. Marginalised people in Africa, Asia and Latin America have often been the main sufferers of corporate mineral extraction projects.
• B. The example of agricultural finance helps us to see how to concentrate corporate activity in the renewable energy sector
• C. One reason for the perpetuation of social injustice lies in the problem of the disposal of toxic waste.
• D. The possible negative impacts of renewable energy need to be studied before it can be offered as a financial investment opportunity.
• A. Renewable energy systems are not as profitable as non-renewable energy systems.
• B. Renewable energy systems are as expensive as non-renewable energy systems.
• C. The production and distribution of renewable energy through small-scale, localsystems is not economically sustainable.
• D. Renewable energy systems have little or no environmental impact.
• A. The author has reservations about the consequences of non-renewable energy systems.
• B. The author’s only reservation is about the profitability of renewable energy systems.
• C. The author has reservations about the consequences of renewable energy systems.
• D. The author does not think renewable energy systems can be as efficient as non-renewable energy systems.
• A. Most forms of renewable energy are not profitable investments for institutional investors.
• B. Renewable energy produced at the household or neighbourhood level is more efficient than mass-produced forms of energy.
• C. Renewable energy systems are not democratic unless they are corporate-controlled.
• D. The development of the renewable energy sector is a double-edged sword.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Let's examine each option individually:
Option A's assertion is contradicted by the last paragraph, where the author advocates for the financial viability of localized small-scale production. Consequently, this option is also incorrect.
Option B accurately states, "many of the world’s largest reservoirs of minerals like cobalt, copper, lithium, [and] rare earth minerals”—the ones needed for renewable technologies—are found in fragile states and under communities of marginalized peoples in Africa, Asia, and Latin America." The passage suggests that the intensification of demand for these minerals could worsen the existing consequences of extractive activities if proper disposal of toxic materials is not ensured.
Option C suggests, "Encouragement for the development of more environment-friendly carbon-based fuels." Yet, the author explicitly discusses reducing carbon footprint in the third paragraph, indicating a stance against carbon-based fuels. Hence, this option is incorrect.
Option D proposes, "The study of the coexistence of marginalized people with their environments." However, this passage primarily discusses the impact of renewable energy on marginalized communities, not their coexistence. Therefore, we can disregard this option.

So, the correct answer is (B): More stringent global policies and regulations to ensure a more just system of toxic waste disposal.

Answer 2

Read the final line of the passage: "For financial growth to be sustained and expanded by the renewable sector, production and trade in renewable energy technologies will need to be highly concentrated, and large asset management firms will likely drive those developments."

This line emphasizes the role of financial institutions and market concentration in expanding the renewable energy sector's economic potential. It does not suggest that the study of negative impacts is a precondition for offering renewables as an investment opportunity.

Therefore, the statement in Option D — "The possible negative impacts of renewable energy need to be studied before it can be offered as a financial investment opportunity" — is not supported by the passage.

 Final Conclusion:

Option D is the correct answer because it introduces an idea (studying negative impacts as a prerequisite for investment) that is not found in the passage.

Answer 3

Referring to the passage, the statement: "As renewable energy production requires land, water, and labor, among other inputs, it imposes costs on people and the environment. Hydropower projects, for instance, have led to community dispossession and exclusion..."

Option Analysis:

• Option A: Correct.
  The passage supports that non-renewable energy systems tend to be more profitable than small-scale renewables.
• Option B: Correct.
  It is valid because large investments are necessary for significant returns in renewable energy infrastructure.
• Option C: Correct.
  The passage notes: "Renewable energy can be produced at the household or neighborhood level. However, such small-scale, localized production is unlikely to generate high returns for investors."
• Option D: Incorrect / Contradicted.
  This option claims: "Renewable energy systems have little or no environmental impact."
  But the passage directly contradicts this by emphasizing the social and environmental costs associated with renewable energy production.

 Final Conclusion:

The correct answer is Option D, because it is explicitly contradicted by the information in the passage.

Answer 4

 

The author has reservations about the consequences of renewable energy systems.

 Evidence from the Paragraph:

• Mentions of Negative Impacts:
  • The author refers to social and environmental harms associated with renewable energy.
  • Issues like electronic waste and the ecological impact of mining for materials are highlighted.
• Tone of Caution:
  • The author stresses the importance of critically examining renewable technologies.
  • Phrases like "beyond their apparent benefits" suggest a nuanced perspective rather than blind endorsement.
• No Absolute Rejection:
  • The author does not dismiss renewable energy, but rather calls attention to potential hidden or long-term drawbacks.

Conclusion:

The author acknowledges the potential of renewable energy but expresses concern about unintended consequences. Hence, the most accurate inference is that they have reservations about the broader impacts of renewable energy systems.

Answer 5

Option A is incorrect because the passage acknowledges renewable technology as a thriving industry. However, it also notes that small-scale production and distribution of renewable energy may not yield substantial returns on investment.
The passage indicates that renewable energy produced at the household or neighborhood level is unlikely to yield significant profits for investors. However, it does not assert that renewable energy generated at this scale is more effective than mass-produced energy forms. Hence, Option B is inaccurate. 
Option C contradicts the passage's discussion on the democratic distribution of renewable energy. As mentioned in "For some climate activists, the promise of renewables rests on their ability not only to reduce emissions but also to provide distributed, democratized access to energy... But Burke and Stephens... caution that 'renewable energy systems offer a possibility but not a certainty for more democratic energy futures."
Option D is valid because the passage delves into both the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy. As evidenced by "Both the direct and indirect impacts of renewable energy must be examined to ensure that a climate-smart future does not intensify social and environmental harm," the passage supports this notion.

The correct answer is (D): The development of the renewable energy sector is a double-edged sword.