Question

Building new parks in urban areas may seem like an obvious solution to increasing green spaces, but numerous studies have cast doubt on the _________ of that approach. Not only do new parks often fail to address urban environmental issues, but they can also lead to gentrification, which drives up housing costs.


1

Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?

A
practicality

B
efficiency

C
sustainability

D
fairness

Answer 1

C — sustainability.

Explanation: The sentence critiques both environmental effectiveness and negative social consequences (gentrification), so the concern is about the long-term viability and overall soundness of the approach. "Sustainability" best captures those environmental and social dimensions. "Practicality" (feasibility), "efficiency" (resource use), and "fairness" (equity alone) are less precise here.