The passage begins by stating that forests are among the world’s most valuable resources. It goes on to say that policy makers need a comprehensive understanding of arguments made about forest use if they are to make well-grounded decisions. The remainder of the passage looks at two such arguments that “merit special scrutinyâ€: (1) the oxygen-renewing capacity of forests; and (2) the role of forests in preserving biodiversity. Taken in turn, the writer points out ways in which these common claims are overstated and inaccurate.
Answer A is correct. The main point of the passage is that these argument deserve to be carefully examined before policy makers rely on them to make decisions about the economic use of forest.
Answer C is not correct. Answer C summarizes the latter half of the passage that analyzes the claim that in order to preserve biodiversity we must conserve the forests. The writer does says that statistics show that deforestation is not happening as quickly as is claimed. However, this is not the main point of the entire passage. Instead, this is one of two examples the writer uses to make his main point: policy makers should carefully examine claims about forest use before making decisions. Answer C fails to address this larger point.
It can be helpful to look for sentences that offer a road map for the passage. In this case, the sentence that begins “Two claims often made…†signal to the reader that discussion of two claims will follow. Keeping in mind this structure can help you to identify what is the main point of the passage and what are just supporting examples.
