Directions (Q. 1 - Q. 8): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Increased time constraints and the need for convenience in raising children appear to offset parents' concerns about the future consequences of climate change, Swedish researchers have found.
A new study published in the journal PLOS One found that despite green intentions, parents generally emit more carbon dioxide (CO2) than people without children - with transport being the main source of higher emissions.
The study's authors, who are based at the Center for Climate Change and Social Transformations at Lund University, wrote, "Time constraints become more binding, and convenience may become more important, when people have children."
"Our results indicate that parenthood does not alter consumer choices toward more climate-friendly options. This is a bit surprising, perhaps, given that one could assume that parents would care about future generations' well-being and therefore be more climate-friendly, but this does not appear to be the case."
The researchers analyzed Swedish expenditure data using carbon footprints for transportation, food, heating, and other goods.
The findings indicate that while parents and non-parents spend similar amounts on housing and food, parents spend significantly more on fuel, which drives up their emissions.
The authors noted that parents may be more likely to travel by car rather than use public transport because of the demands of getting children to and from school and activities.
The carbon footprints of Swedish households with and without children were compared. The researchers found that while families with children consumed slightly less than childless households on certain luxury goods, the total difference in CO2 emissions remained substantial due to car travel.
Why the disparity in the carbon footprints of Swedish households with and without children is particularly striking ?
๐ก Solution & Explanation:
Correct Answer: Option (E) โ As concerns about climate change are more pronounced in Sweden than most other developed countries.
Grammar & Vocabulary Concept
English Grammar & Verbal Aptitude.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Syntactic and semantic analysis of the sentence demonstrates that Option (E) is the correct answer: As concerns about climate change are more pronounced in Sweden than most other developed countries..
Hence, the correct answer is Option (E).