Question

large - scale excavation mining
coal companies should follow regulations when they work mining excavations like mountaintop removal or pr mining. these rules exist to protect the environment, the natural beauty, and the wildlife of an area. they also protect the health and homes of the people who live near a mine. most important is the protection of precious topsoil. according to geologists, lost topsoil takes hundreds of years to replace.
coal companies prefer excavation mining because it lets the companies employ fewer workers while maximizing output. the miners claim that a company can mine the entire coal lode more effectively, whereas shaft mining is less efficient and requires more workers.
coal companies claim the large - scale of these projects is necessary to meet the growing demands of the united states and the rest of the world.
coal companies repair these sites when they finish a project. they call this process reclamation. the companies fill in the large holes and replace the topsoil. they plant trees and grasses. many times, coal companies later sell this land to developers who build towns and urban centers.
regulations include fees and fines for companies who do not follow environmental guidelines. the process of following regulations may cost the company money in terms of productivity. companies can easily absorb these added costs because excavation mining creates huge profits.
by pointing out the need to protect the environment at the end of paragraph 1, the author is
a. appealing to readers’ feelings of compassion
b. stating that the environment is not so badly damaged
c. trying to distract readers from the real issue at hand
d. suggesting that coal companies are unsympathetic

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the author's approach at the end of paragraph 1. The text mentions protecting the environment, natural beauty, and people’s health/homes near mines. Appealing to compassion (option A) aligns with evoking readers’ empathy for these aspects. Option B is incorrect as the text emphasizes environmental protection, not downplaying damage. Option C is wrong as there’s no distraction. Option D is incorrect as the focus is on environmental/community protection, not portraying coal companies as unsympathetic.

Answer:

A. appealing to readers’ feelings of compassion