Entry Exam Category: High School Equivalency Exams
Course: General Education Development (GED)
Exam: GED Social Studies Practice Test
Practice Question
Extract
This excerpt is from a message delivered by President Richard Nixon to the U.S. Congress in 1970.
[W]e in this century have too casually and too long abused our natural environment.
The fight against pollution is not a search for villains. For the most part, the damage done to our environment has not been the work of evil men, nor has it been the inevitable by-product either of advancing technology or of growing population. It results not so much from choices made, as from choices neglected; not from [evil] intention, but from failure to take into account the full consequences of our actions.
The tasks that need doing... call for fundamentally new philosophies of land, air and water use, for stricter regulation, for expanded government action, for greater citizen involvement, and for new programs to ensure that government, industry and individuals all are called on to do their share of the job and to pay their share of the cost.
[W]e in this century have too casually and too long abused our natural environment.
The fight against pollution is not a search for villains. For the most part, the damage done to our environment has not been the work of evil men, nor has it been the inevitable by-product either of advancing technology or of growing population. It results not so much from choices made, as from choices neglected; not from [evil] intention, but from failure to take into account the full consequences of our actions.
The tasks that need doing... call for fundamentally new philosophies of land, air and water use, for stricter regulation, for expanded government action, for greater citizen involvement, and for new programs to ensure that government, industry and individuals all are called on to do their share of the job and to pay their share of the cost.
Which statement identifies the purpose of President Nixon's message?
Answer Choices
- A: to convince Congress that technological advancement and population growth must be slowed to protect the environment
- B: to convince Congress that industrial polluters of the air and water should not pay for cleaning the environment
- C: to convince Congress that it must take part in action to address human damage to the environment
- D: to convince Congress that there should be no benefits for businesses that pollute the environment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Nixon calls for "expanded government action" and shared responsibility for pollution