PREP模考题

Twenty years ago, Balzania put in place regulations requiring operators of surface mines to pay for the reclamation of mined-out land. Since then, reclamation technology has not improved. Yet, the average cost for a surface coal mine being reclaimed today is only four dollars per ton of coal that the mine produced, less than half what it cost to reclaim surface mines in the years immediately after the regulations took effect.

Which of the following, if true, most helps to account for the drop in reclamation costs described?

A.Even after Balzania began requiring surface mine operators to pay reclamation costs, coal mines in Balzania continued to be less expensive to operate than coal mines in almosr any other country.

B.In the twenty years since the regulations took effect, the use of coal as a fuel has declined from the level it was at in the previous 20 years.

C.Mine operators have generally ceased surface mining in the mountainous areas of Balzania because costs per ton of coal produced are particulary high for mines in such areas.

D.Even after Balzania began requiring surface mine operators to pay reclamation costs, surface mines continued to produce coal at a lower total cost than underground mines.

E.As compared to 20 years ago, a greater percentage of the coal mined in Balzania today comes from surface mines.

ANSWER: C BUT I CHOSE B.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SOMEONE WHO CAN EXPLAIN THE LOGIC IN THE PARAGRAPH