Question

crude oil is perhaps the most useful and versatile raw material that has become available for exploitation. by the mid - 1980s, worldwide production was 53.4 million barrels a day. the worlds reserves of crude oil add up to about 700 billion barrels, over half of which are in the middle east. it is likely that some additional discoveries will be made of new reserves in coming years, and new technologies will be developed for more efficient recovery from known resources. many experts believe that the supply of crude oil will probably extend into the 21st century, but probably not much longer.
which of the following can the reader infer from the passage above?
a. new energy sources will be necessary in the future.
b. you can become rich by discovering oil.
c. burning crude oil causes pollution.
d. the price of oil fluctuates wildly and is totally unpredictable.

Explanation:

The passage discusses the production and supply of crude oil. It mentions that new technologies may extend oil recovery but not for long. This implies that new energy sources will be necessary in the future as oil is a finite resource. Option A aligns with this inference. Option B is incorrect as the passage doesn't suggest getting rich by discovering oil. Option C is a fact stated (burning oil causes pollution) but not an inference. Option D is not supported as the passage doesn't mention the price being "totally unpredictable".

Answer:

A. New energy sources will be necessary in the future.