Question

a proposal to build a biomass energy facility near clatz peak could provide several benefits to our city. first, it will create hundreds of full - time jobs. the energy facility, which requires space and raw materials that are available in our region, will greatly reduce unemployment among skilled workers. with a higher rate of employment, our local economy will be revived, enabling more citizens to work locally rather than move or commute to larger cities for work.
the biomass facility will also make use of readily available forest products, generating an additional source of revenue for the city. the proposed facility would use wood scraps, bark, tree branches, and stumps that would ordinarily be discarded. from these raw materials, the plant would manufacture wood pellets and other products. because there are numerous lumber mills in the area, which produce hundreds of tons of wood scraps each year, clatz peak is an ideal location. the city can utilize “leftovers” from the logging industry to produce profit. materials that are considered virtually useless could be used to create both revenue and tangible products for use by ordinary citizens.
finally, our town will adopt more environmentally responsible ways of living and working. traditional power sources are not only finite, but release damaging quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. biomass energy sources, or biofuels, do not carry this hazard and therefore can play a role in preserving rather than harming the environment.
this question has two parts. answer part a and then answer part b.
part a
what is the author’s main argument in favor of building a biomass energy facility?

1. it will improve the local economy
2. it will conserve available resources.
3. it will put lumber mills out of business.

part b
choose two claims that support the correct answer from part a.

1. “a biomass energy facility near clatz peak could provide several benefits to our city” (paragraph 1)
2. “first, it will create hundreds of full - time jobs.” (paragraph 1)
3. “clatz peak is an ideal location” (paragraph 2)
4. “the city can utilize leftovers from the logging industry to produce profit.”

Explanation:

Part A

To determine the author's main argument in favor of building a biomass energy facility, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: The passage states "With a higher rate of employment, our local economy will be revived, enabling more citizens to work locally rather than move or commute to larger cities for work" and also mentions job creation. Reviving the local economy (through job creation and other factors) is a key argument.
• Option 2: The passage says the facility will use "readily available forest products" (wood scraps, etc.) that would otherwise be discarded, so it's using resources, not conserving them. Eliminate this.
• Option 3: The passage says the facility will "manufacture wood pellets and other products" from raw materials, and the lumber mills already exist. The facility is not putting lumber mills out of business. Eliminate this.

We need to find two claims from Part A that are supported by parts of the passage:

• Claim 1: "a biomass energy facility near Clatz Peak could provide several benefits to our city" (Paragraph 1) – The passage lists benefits like job creation, economic revival, and using waste materials, so this is supported.
• Claim 2: "First, it will create hundreds of full - time jobs" (Paragraph 1) – The passage says "It will create hundreds of full - time jobs. The energy facility, which requires space and raw materials that are available in our region, will greatly reduce unemployment among skilled workers" – this supports job creation.
• Claim 3: "Clatz Peak is an ideal location" (Paragraph 2) – The passage says "Clatz Peak is an ideal location. The city can utilize 'leftovers' from the logging industry to produce profit" – this supports the ideal location claim.
• Claim 4: "The city can utilize 'leftovers' from the logging industry to produce profit" (Paragraph 2) – The passage says "Materials that are considered virtually useless could be used to create both revenue and tangible products for use by ordinary citizens" – this supports using logging leftovers for profit.

We choose two. Let's pick Claim 2 and Claim 3 (or other valid pairs, but here we'll go with these as examples):

Answer:

1. It will improve the local economy

Part B