From 1880 to 2000 Britain’s economy grew fivefold, but emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, were the same on a per capita basis in Britain in 2000 as they were in 1880.
Summary
From 1880 to 2000 Britain’s economy grew fivefold, but emissions of carbon dioxide were the same on a per capita basis in Britain in 2000 as they were in 1880.
Notable Valid Inferences
Economic growth does not always increase per capita emissions of carbon dioxide.
A
A decrease in per capita emissions of carbon dioxide never occurs during a period of economic growth.
Could be true. To say that this never occurs is too extreme. It is possible that between 1880 and 2000, per capita emissions fluctuated only to become the same at the end of the stated time period.
B
Countries whose economies are growing slowly or not at all usually cannot afford to enact laws restricting carbon dioxide emissions.
Could be true. The information in the stimulus is limited to the country of Britain. Britain’s economy grew fivefold between 1880 and 2000, and we cannot assume that this rate is slow for economic growth.
C
Economic growth initially leads to increased per capita emissions of greenhouse gases, but eventually new technologies are developed that tend to reduce these emissions.
Could be true. It is possible that between 1880 and 2000, per capita emissions fluctuated only to become the same at the end of the stated time period.
D
As the world’s population grows, emissions of greenhouse gases will increase proportionately.
Could be true. The information in the stimulus is restricted to the country of Britain. It is possible that the world’s population experienced a different overall outcome from economic growth than Britain.
E
Economic growth always increases household income and consumption, which inevitably increases per capita emissions of carbon dioxide.
Must be false. The stimulus tells us that even though Britain’s economy grew, per capita emissions remained the same. Therefore, it is not always the case that economic growth increases per capita emissions.