Environmental Concern and Development are Inextricably Linked GMAT Reading Comprehension

Reading Passage Question

(From a text published in 1999) 

Environmental concern and development are inextricably linked. Experience demonstrates that environmental standards and cleaner production are compatible with and supportive of economic growth. Healthy people and ecosystems are more productive. This link between economic growth and environmental improvement is enshrined, together with the commitment to development, in the World Trade Organization’s Preamble, which includes sustainable development as a basic objective of the trading system. In endorsing this concept, despite some reservations, WTO members unanimously recognized that trade and the economic growth WTO helps to create must be fostered in the context of sustainable development which integrates economic, social and environmental policies. Economic growth, sustainable development, and opportunity for citizens are fundamental goals of every society. And the record of the past five decades clearly shows how the trading system has helped us reach some of these goals.

Since 1960, the WTO has negotiated a 90% drop in tariffs, and non-tariff barriers to trade have also been dramatically reduced. Moreover, market access for agriculture and services will be further expanded upon conclusion of the next Uruguay Round. Thus, since 1960 trade has grown fifteen-fold; world economic production has quadrupled; and world per capita income has more than doubled. However, has the World Trade Organization done enough to promote sustainable development and protect the environment? The answer is yet to be presented by WTO. In reference to the concept of sustainable development, the Brundtland Commission Re- port of 1987 stated “we must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Have any laws been made to make sustainable development mandatory? Taking into account state practice, treaty law, international case law and relevant legal literature, sustainable development is not yet a norm of international law. Currently it reflects a policy goal of the international community. This method of taking a concept so important only as a precautionary guideline has brought the WTO’s intentions regarding sustainable development into question.

“Environmental concern and development are inextricably linked.”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.

This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 5 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for the purpose of testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. Which of the following titles would be most appropriate for this passage?

(A) The Work of the WTO
(B) WTO Measures to Protect the Environment
(C) Healthy trade and ecosystems
(D) The WTO and the Environment
(E) The Link between Trade and the sustainable development

2. According to the passage, under what conditions did the WTO endorse the link between the environment and sustainable development?

(A) By recognizing that development is the fundamental goal of every society
(B) By committing the WTO itself to environmental improvement
(C) By declaring that trade must be based on sustainable development
(D) By refuting the concept of temporary development as a basis for trade
(E) By understanding healthy ecosystems

3. Why does the author present the question “has the World Trade Organization done enough ... environment?” (Highlighted) in the second paragraph?

(A) To question the WTO on its actions taken so far to assess them
(B) To suggest that the WTO hasn’t done enough towards sustainable development
(C) To imply that sustainable development is an impossible goal to attain for the WTO
(D) To create doubts in the readers’ minds about the usefulness of the WTO
(E) To introduce doubts about the WTO’s actions since its inception

4. According to the information presented in the passage, with which of the following would the writer of the passage most likely disagree?

(A) It isn’t necessary to compromise on economic goals to achieve sustainable growth.
(B) The WTO should encourage countries to care for the environment as well as economic progress.
(C) The WTO is not more motivated by the desire for expanding trade than towards environmental concerns.
(D) Decreasing tariffs increases world trade.
(E) The WTO is not instrumental in protecting the global environment.

5. It can be inferred from the passage that the conclusion of the Uruguay Round will

(A) open the way to environmental protection measures
(B) bring new laws towards sustainable development
(C) lead to new global trade agreements
(D) see more reductions in tariffs and trading obstacles
(E) lead to dramatic trade expansion and global growth

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