Question

Instruction: Identify the assumptions that must hold for the statement to be valid, then choose the correct option.

Statement: Deforestation in tropical rainforests, primarily driven by agricultural expansion and logging, not only contributes to the loss of biodiversity but also exacerbates global warming by reducing the Earth's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide.

Assumptions:

I. Deforestation reduces the Earth's ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

II. Agricultural expansion and logging are the primary causes of deforestation.

IlI. The loss of biodiversity is the most significant consequence of deforestation.

• A. Only I and Il are implicit
• B. Only Il and Ill are implicit
• C. Only I is implicit
• D. All I, Il and Ill are implicit

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Only I and Il are implicit

The statement says:

Deforestation in tropical rainforests, primarily driven by agricultural expansion and logging, contributes to biodiversity loss and worsens global warming by reducing the Earth's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide.

Now evaluate the assumptions:

• I. Deforestation reduces the Earth's ability to absorb carbon dioxide. ✅
  This is required because the statement explicitly says global warming is exacerbated by reducing the Earth's capacity to absorb CO₂.

• II. Agricultural expansion and logging are the primary causes of deforestation. ✅
  The statement states that deforestation is "primarily driven by agricultural expansion and logging," so this assumption is necessary.

• III. The loss of biodiversity is the most significant consequence of deforestation. ❌
  The statement only says deforestation causes biodiversity loss; it does not claim it is the most significant consequence.

✅ Correct Answer: Only Assumptions I and II follow.