Environment vs industry — Should cutting of trees be banned altogether? Statement: Should cutting of trees be banned altogether? Arguments: I. Yes. It is very much necessary to restore ecological balance. II. No. A total ban would harm timber-based industries.
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AOnly argument I is strong
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BOnly argument II is strong
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CEither I or II is strong
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DNeither I nor II is strong
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EBoth I and II are strong
Answer
Correct Answer: Only argument I is strong
Explanation
Introduction / Context:This question weighs ecological sustainability against industrial interests in the face of an absolute policy: banning tree cutting altogether. We must decide which argument is intrinsically stronger at the level of public interest and long-term environmental stability.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Deforestation threatens biodiversity, climate regulation, soil stability, and water cycles.
- An “altogether” ban is absolute; it targets practices that degrade forests.
- Industry concerns can be addressed via legal plantations, recycling, and alternatives.
Concept / Approach:In argument evaluation, broad public goods (ecological balance) tend to carry decisive weight when the counterargument cites economic inconvenience without demonstrating net social benefit or alternatives.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Argument I: Strong. Ecological balance is foundational; degradation can be irreversible. A strict measure can be justified where enforcement and conservation are paramount.Argument II: Weaker as phrased. It focuses on industrial harm but does not argue why a total ban is socially inferior to strict protection, nor does it propose sustainable alternatives. Economic transitions can be managed via plantation forestry and circular materials.Verification / Alternative check:Policy precedence often places ecosystem integrity above short-term industry disruption, especially under an “altogether” framing where the default is conservation.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Only II strong: ignores overriding ecological imperatives.
- Either I or II: not equivalent in weight.
- Neither: false; I is strong.
- Both: II is not sufficiently compelling as framed.
Common Pitfalls:Equating industrial impact with public interest without considering externalities and long-term ecological costs.
Final Answer:Only argument I is strong