Question

Read the following paragraph. Many high school students are becoming increasingly concerned about the effects of toxic pollution in the environment. I know this because my students tell me that environmental destruction is one of their greatest fears for the future. A recent straw poll taken among my science classes revealed that over 90% of students were making efforts to use fewer resources and be less wasteful with those they did use. After all, they argue, people are living longer these days. Even if they couldn't be bothered to care about future generations, they themselves will be the ones living with the destruction not too far into the future.
 
Dr. Isaac Smith Which of the following cites evidence from the paragraph effectively?
    A. Smith writes that his students are more concerned than ever with environmental damage. Arguing that people live longer these days, his students claim that one motivating factor is that "they couldn't be bothered to care about future generations."
    B. Smith writes that his students are more concerned than ever with environmental damage. Arguing that people live longer these days, his students claim that one motivating factor is that "they themselves will be the ones living with the destruction not too far into the future."
   C. Smith writes that his students are more concerned than ever with environmental damage. "A recent straw poll taken among my science classes revealed that over 90% of students were making efforts to use fewer resources and be less wasteful with those they did use. After all, they argue, people are living longer these days. Even if they couldn't be bothered to care about future generations, they themselves will be the ones living with the destruction not too far into the future."
    D. Smith writes that his students are "more concerned than ever" with environmental damage. "Arguing that people live longer these days, his students claim that one motivating factor is that they themselves will be the ones living with the destruction not too far into the future."

Answer 1

The correct answer is B. The main difference between choices B, C, and D is the use of quotations appropriately. Quotations are only needed for the students' words, such as "they themselves will be the ones living with the destruction not too far into the future". Choice A is not a logical statement, the supporting detail contradicts with the conclusion.