Instruction: Identify the assumptions that must hold for the statement to be valid, then choose the correct option.
Statement: Urban sprawl, which leads to the expansion of cities into rural areas, often results in the loss of biodiversity, fragmentation of ecosystems, and increased pollution, thereby posing a significant challenge to sustainable development.
Assumptions:
I. Urban sprawl contributes to the degradation of natural ecosystems.
II. Sustainable development can be achieved without considering the impact of urbanization on ecosystems.
III. The expansion of cities results in the destruction of biodiversity and environmental degradation.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Assumption I: "Urban sprawl contributes to the degradation of natural ecosystems."
Analysis: This is directly implied in the statement. The statement states that urban sprawl causes "ecosystem fragmentation and pollution," which is a form of ecosystem degradation. Therefore, Assumption I is implicit.
Assumption II: "Sustainable development cannot be achieved without considering the impact of urbanization on ecosystems."
Analysis: This assumption is completely incorrect. The statement clearly states that the environmental impacts of urban sprawl "pose a significant challenge to sustainable development." This means that considering and managing these impacts of urbanization is crucial to achieving sustainable development. Therefore, Assumption II is not implicit.
Assumption III: "City sprawl results in the loss of biodiversity and environmental degradation."
Analysis: The statement clearly states that urban sprawl (the expansion of cities) causes "loss of biodiversity and increased pollution." This completely confirms this assumption. Therefore, assumption III is implicit.
Conclusion:
Only assumptions I and III are implicit in the statement.