Which of the following facts would most strengthen the author's claim that the answer is a matter of local facts?
Nuclear power divides opinion more sharply than almost any energy source. Its opponents point to rare but severe accidents and to the problem of storing waste for thousands of years. Supporters point to its low carbon emissions and constant output. It is tempting to resolve the dispute by asking which is the lesser evil, but the question is badly framed. The real choice is rarely between nuclear and a perfect alternative; it is between nuclear and whatever would in practice supply the same power. If that is gas or coal, the emissions are far higher and the daily harms from air pollution are considerable. If renewables with storage can fill the gap at a lower cost, nuclear loses its advantage. The answer is therefore a matter of local facts, not of principle.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Regions differ widely in whether gas, coal or strong renewable sources are available to them
- Step 1: The claim is that the right choice depends on the local circumstances and the realistic alternative.
- Step 2: Variation between regions in available alternatives supports it directly.
Answer
Regions differ widely in whether gas, coal or strong renewable sources are available to them.
Why not the others: Constant output, rare accidents, waste storage and the harm of coal pollution are general facts that hold anywhere, so they cannot show that the answer varies from place to place.
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