Question

which of the following is an explicit statement, not an inference?
recycling helps conserve natural resources.
people recycle only because they are forced to.
cities reward people because they want to make money.
recycling is more fun than throwing things away.

Explanation:

An explicit statement is a direct assertion. "Recycling helps conserve natural resources" is a factual and direct claim. The other statements involve assumptions or inferences. For example, "People recycle only because they are forced to" assumes a motive (being forced) without direct evidence. "Cities reward people because they want to make money" infers a city's motive (making money) which isn't directly stated. "Recycling is more fun than throwing things away" is a subjective comparison that's an opinion - based inference.

Answer:

Recycling helps conserve natural resources.