The recent rise of low-cost airlines in Country Y has led to great increases in the number of air travelers and flights. However, a "hidden cost" of flying and certain other forms of travel is the significant amount of air pollution, which contributes to global warming. To make people pay these hidden costs-and in the process discourage the explosive growth in flying-the government of Country Y plans to impose fees on all air travel. There is a problem, however, in that many residents of Country Y would then use automobile transportation instead, without paying the hidden costs of the resulting air pollution.
Which of the following additions to the government's plan would be likely to help most in overcoming the problem referred to in the final sentence above?
A. Restricting the number of daily flights permitted in Country Y
B. Using the fees imposed on air travel to educate the public about the effects of air pollution on global warming
C. Setting clear, specific recommendations for the long-term reduction in exhaust emissions by automobile transportation in the country
D. Asking airplane manufacturers to study the possibility of creating airplanes that produce less air pollution
E. Imposing substantial fees on all forms of motorized transportation, in proportion to the amount of pollution caused by each form
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The recent rise of low-cost airlines in Country Y has led to
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The problem cited involves a shift from using air transportation, which will involve paying the fees, to using automobiles, which does not involve paying the fees. So the solution will address this shift or its results.
(A) This will not address the shift or its results. If anything taking this course of action will exacerbate the problems.
(B) This is interesting and even tempting. The basic problem is pollution and use of vehicles that create the pollution. So if educating the public were effective in reducing that use, then the basic problem would be addressed, and the use of automobiles would be reduced. However the problem cited in the last sentence would not really be addressed. To the degree that people would still use polluting means of transportation, there would still be a shift from using air transportation and paying the fees to using automobiles and not paying the fees.
(C) Recommendations are a good first step, but setting recommendations would not affect the shift or its results.
(D) While in the long run doing this might somehow affect the dynamics of the situation, doing it does not clearly address the problem mentioned.
(E) Doing this would directly address both aspects of the problem, the shift and the results of the shift. If all forms of motorized transportation had associated pollution fees that were in direct proportion to the amount of pollution each form produces, then there would be no incentive to shift to avoid fees in such a way that pollution costs are not being paid. Meanwhile, whatever form of transportation people would choose, the people would pay fees that are appropriate given the pollution caused by that form.
The correct answer is E.
(A) This will not address the shift or its results. If anything taking this course of action will exacerbate the problems.
(B) This is interesting and even tempting. The basic problem is pollution and use of vehicles that create the pollution. So if educating the public were effective in reducing that use, then the basic problem would be addressed, and the use of automobiles would be reduced. However the problem cited in the last sentence would not really be addressed. To the degree that people would still use polluting means of transportation, there would still be a shift from using air transportation and paying the fees to using automobiles and not paying the fees.
(C) Recommendations are a good first step, but setting recommendations would not affect the shift or its results.
(D) While in the long run doing this might somehow affect the dynamics of the situation, doing it does not clearly address the problem mentioned.
(E) Doing this would directly address both aspects of the problem, the shift and the results of the shift. If all forms of motorized transportation had associated pollution fees that were in direct proportion to the amount of pollution each form produces, then there would be no incentive to shift to avoid fees in such a way that pollution costs are not being paid. Meanwhile, whatever form of transportation people would choose, the people would pay fees that are appropriate given the pollution caused by that form.
The correct answer is E.
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