Question

a single country’s energy portfolio over the past 50 years shows the following trend: a 70% decrease in coal consumption, a 50% decrease in petroleum consumption, and a 120% increase in wind power consumption. which conclusion about the country’s energy policy is best supported by this data?
a. the country has successfully transitioned its entire energy sector to carbon - neutral resources.
b. the country has prioritized the use of non - renewable fossil fuels over nuclear energy.
c. the country has failed to meet its long - term goals for reducing overall energy consumption.
d. the country has significantly shifted its energy investment toward harnessing a renewable, intermittent resource.

Explanation:

• Option A: "Entire energy sector" is too absolute; the data only shows changes in coal, petroleum, and wind, not the whole sector.
• Option B: The data shows a decrease in non - renewable (coal, petroleum) and an increase in wind (renewable), so non - renewable over nuclear is not supported.
• Option C: The data is about energy consumption types (coal, petroleum, wind), not overall energy consumption goals, so this is not supported.
• Option D: Coal and petroleum (non - renewable) consumption decreased, wind (renewable, intermittent) consumption increased, so the country has shifted energy investment toward renewable, intermittent resources. This matches the data.

Answer:

D. The country has significantly shifted its energy investment toward harnessing a renewable, intermittent resource.