Question

water, water everywhere?
the reader can infer from the article that
a. thomas lyon, a professor at the university of michigan, is hesitant to advise beverage companies on ways to conserve water
b. beverage companies are more interested in helping communities find sources of drinking water than in making money by selling products.
c. protecting every part of the environment is a higher priority for the nature conservancy than it is for beverage companies.
d. since water is an unlimited resource, beverage companies, as well as most large manufacturing businesses, need to devote minimal time to conserving it

Explanation:

To solve this inference question, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The article mentions beverage companies teaming up with environmental groups for water conservation, so a professor advising them on conservation would likely not be hesitant. Eliminate A.
• Option B: Beverage companies are businesses, so making money by selling products is a key goal; helping communities is part of conservation efforts but not more important than profit. Eliminate B.
• Option C: The Nature Conservancy is an environmental organization, so protecting the environment is a higher priority for them than for beverage companies (which have profit motives too). This is a reasonable inference.
• Option D: Water is a limited resource (the article's context about conservation implies this), so the claim that water is unlimited is false. Eliminate D.

Answer:

C. Protecting every part of the environment is a higher priority for The Nature Conservancy than it is for beverage companies.