Directions: Carefully read the given passage and answer the question that follow. You are required to select your answer solely based on the contents of the passage and the opinion of the author only.
People by and large are concerned with and pursue self-interest. They are unlikely to be motivated to use renewable resources in a prudent and sustainable fashion. They are unlikely to be motivated under the following conditions: if their resource catchments are vast, so that degradation of any particular portion affects them very little; or if they have open before them possibilities of substitution as any one resource element is depleted; or if their control over the resource base is tenuous, so that others may, at any time, deplete a resource they value, even if they use it in a restrained fashion. Indeed, exhaustive use is highly likely when any one of these three conditions obtains. It is only when people perceive their resource catchments as limited, possibilities of substitution of exhausted resource elements as not readily feasible, and their own control over the resource base as secure, will they be motivated to use the resources in a prudent fashion. People, rooted in a locality, and retaining control over their resource base are most likely to fulfil all three prerequisites for sustainable resource use; and therefore to behave in ways conducive to the conservation of biodiversity within their localities.
The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources
indifferently
Understanding Self-Interest and Renewable Resource Use
The passage discusses how human self-interest influences the use of renewable resources. It highlights that people, driven by self-interest, are generally not motivated to use these resources in a prudent and sustainable way. The author outlines specific conditions under which this lack of motivation is prevalent.
Analyzing the Passage's Core Argument
The central statement in the passage is:
"People by and large are concerned with and pursue self-interest. They are unlikely to be motivated to use renewable resources in a prudent and sustainable fashion."
This sentence directly links self-interest to a lack of motivation regarding sustainable resource use. The passage then details scenarios where this lack of motivation (and subsequent exhaustive use) is likely:
- Vast resource catchments: Degradation of a small part doesn't significantly affect them.
- Possibilities of substitution: If one resource runs out, another can be easily used.
- Tenuous control: Others might deplete the resource anyway, so why be restrained?
Conversely, the passage states that motivation for prudent, sustainable use only arises when people perceive their resource base as limited, substitution as difficult, and their control as secure. This suggests that sustainable use is pursued only when it aligns with long-term self-interest (e.g., ensuring continued availability of a crucial, irreplaceable resource they control).
Evaluating the Options
Let's examine how each option aligns with the passage's assertion that self-interest makes people "unlikely to be motivated to use renewable resources in a prudent and sustainable fashion."
| Option | Analysis based on Passage |
|---|---|
| positively | The passage explicitly states self-interest makes people "unlikely" to use resources sustainably, which is the opposite of positive motivation towards sustainability. This option contradicts the passage. |
| erratically | While unsustainable use patterns might appear erratic from a long-term perspective, the passage describes specific conditions leading to "exhaustive use" vs. conditions leading to "prudent fashion". This suggests a conditional pattern rather than mere erratic behaviour. The primary effect described is a lack of motivation for prudence under common conditions. |
| affirmatively | Similar to 'positively', this implies a positive effect on sustainable use, which is contradicted by the passage's statement about being "unlikely to be motivated" for prudence. |
| indifferently | The statement "unlikely to be motivated to use renewable resources in a prudent and sustainable fashion" implies a lack of care or interest in the *prudent and sustainable* aspect of resource use when self-interest is the primary driver, unless specific circumstances make prudence align with self-interest. This lack of motivation towards sustainable use effectively means being indifferent to sustainability itself under typical conditions described in the passage. |
Conclusion on Self-Interest and Resource Use
Based on the passage, the pursuit of self-interest makes people largely unconcerned with or "unlikely to be motivated" by the principles of prudence and sustainability in resource use. This lack of motivation towards sustainable behaviour, unless specific conditions tie sustainability directly to their self-interest (like secure control over limited resources), is best described as being indifferent to sustainable practices. Their primary motivation is self-gain, and sustainability is not a default outcome of this motivation.
Revision Table: Key Concepts
| Concept | Passage's View |
|---|---|
| Self-Interest | Primary driver for people's actions. |
| Motivation for Sustainable Use | Unlikely when driven solely by self-interest under common conditions (vast resources, easy substitution, tenuous control). |
| Conditions for Prudent Use | Perceived limited resources, difficult substitution, secure control over the resource base. |
| Outcome of Self-Interest (typical) | Exhaustive use is highly likely under certain conditions. Indifference to sustainability. |
Additional Information on Resource Management
This passage touches upon important themes in environmental economics and common-pool resource management. The idea that individuals pursuing self-interest can lead to the depletion of shared resources is often referred to as the "Tragedy of the Commons". When resources are vast, easily substitutable, or control is unclear, individual self-interest does not align with collective long-term sustainability. The passage suggests that secure control over a limited resource base can align self-interest with sustainable use, as the individual/group benefits directly from the long-term health of the resource. This highlights the importance of property rights, community management, and resource perception in fostering sustainable behaviour.
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?
1. They feel that others may overuse the resource
2. It is possible to substitute the resource
3. Abundance of the resource availability
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
When do people use resources exhaustively?
People rooted in a locality
Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?
Which one of the following does not belong to the biotic community?
