Passage - 2 In only 50 years, the world's consumption of raw materials has nearly quadrupled, to more than…
Passage - 2
In only 50 years, the world's consumption of raw materials has nearly quadrupled, to more than 100 billion tons. Less than 9% of this is reused. Batteries of old vehicles contain materials such as lithium, cobalt, manganese and nickel that are pricey and can be hard to obtain. Supply chains are long and complicated. Buyers' risks are being aggravated by their suppliers' poor environmental and labour standards. Reusing materials makes sense. Once batteries reach the ends of their lives, they should go back to a factory where their ingredients can be recovered and put into new batteries.
Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical, rational and pragmatic message conveyed by the passage?
Green economy is not possible without reusing critical minerals.
Every sector of economy should adapt the reuse of material resources immediately.
Circular economy can be beneficial for sustainable growth.
Circular use of material resources is the only option for some industries for their survival.
Solution
The passage notes quadrupled raw-material consumption with under 9% reuse, and argues that reusing materials (e.g. recovering battery ingredients) 'makes sense.' The pragmatic message is that circular use of resources benefits sustainable growth - option (c). Options (a), (b) and (d) are too absolute ('not possible without,' 'immediately,' 'only option').