Question 45·Hard·Inferences
In a recent policy brief, climate economist Marina Soto notes that since their introduction in 2005, national carbon taxes have coincided with an average 7 % decline in emissions among adopting countries. However, she points out that most of these taxes remain well below the price per ton of carbon that scientific panels deem necessary to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. Soto concludes that governments must pair existing carbon taxes with strict caps on industrial emissions and large-scale public investment in clean-energy infrastructure. Soto’s conclusion therefore implies that the carbon taxes enacted so far _____.
Which choice most logically completes the text?
For inference cloze questions, restate the author’s key claim(s) and conclusion in your own words, then select the completion that must be true if that conclusion is correct. Prefer choices that preserve the passage’s logic and emphasis (here: taxes are below the needed price, so additional measures are required) and reject choices that overstate sufficiency or shift the author’s recommendation to a different “main” solution.
Hints
Find the key limitation Soto points out
Soto contrasts an emissions decline with the claim that most taxes are still below the price needed for the 1.5 °C goal.
Use “must pair” to make an inference
If governments must pair existing taxes with caps and investment, what does that suggest about whether current taxes are enough by themselves?
Watch for choices that overstate or shift her point
Be wary of choices claiming taxes alone are sufficient, or choices that say one add-on policy is the only thing that matters. Soto argues for multiple measures because the taxes are not high enough on their own.
Step-by-step Explanation
Clarify what the question is asking
The question asks what Soto’s conclusion implies about the carbon taxes enacted so far. So we need an inference that follows from her evidence and her stated conclusion.
Pull the key evidence from the passage
Soto says two key things about existing carbon taxes:
- Since 2005, they have coincided with an average 7% decline in emissions in adopting countries.
- Most of these taxes are below the price per ton that scientific panels say is needed to limit warming to 1.5 °C.
Connect the evidence to her conclusion
Even with the observed emissions declines, Soto concludes governments must pair existing carbon taxes with:
- strict caps on industrial emissions, and
- large-scale public investment in clean-energy infrastructure.
This indicates she believes current carbon taxes (as enacted so far) are not enough to achieve the climate target by themselves.
Choose the option that matches the implication
The option that matches this reasoning is the one stating that current carbon taxes are set too low to reach desired climate targets without additional measures.
Correct answer: are priced too low to achieve desired climate targets without further action