A state was planning to construct several hundred miles of a new railway in an area that was currently the habitat of various plant and animal populations. During the planning stage, the state officials asked two scientists to create plans to reduce the impact of the railway construction on the biodiversity of the area. The two plans are described below.

Question

Plans for Maintaining Biodiversity in an Area Proposed for Railway Construction

Plan Plan Highlights
Plan A
Perform a wildlife survey to determine the best locations for construction based on the presence of endangered or threatened species.

Start construction of aboveground rail tracks in selected locations; as the construction proceeds, create wildlife corridors that help connect divided animal populations to maintain genetic diversity in the region.

After the construction is complete, replant with native plants along cleared construction areas where possible.

Continue to monitor the area for changes in populations and form new action plans as needed.

Approximate cost of plan: $5 billion.
Plan B
Perform a wildlife survey to determine the best locations for construction based on the presence of endangered or threatened species.

Dig large underground tunnels in selected areas where all of the rail tracks will be constructed.

Line tunnels with concrete to provide stability, construct rail tracks, and then cover the disrupted areas with soil and native plants so that the habitat is only minimally impacted by the presence of underground railways.

Continue to monitor the area for changes in populations and form new action plans as needed.

Approximate cost of plan: $30 billion.

State officials decided to go with plan B. Why did the state officials probably choose plan B?
A.
Plan B will limit habitat disruption better than plan A.
B.
The construction time will be less for plan B than for plan A.
C.
Plan B will require fewer materials for construction than plan A.
D.
The economic demands of plan B will be lower than those of plan A.

Answer 1

The most likely reason the state officials chose plan B is:

A. Plan B will limit habitat disruption better than plan A.

Plan B involves constructing underground tunnels, which would minimize disruption to the surface habitat and ecosystems compared to Plan A, which involves aboveground rail tracks. The other options are less plausible because Plan B is more expensive (not a lower economic demand), likely involves a longer construction time (not less construction time), and would typically require more materials (not fewer) due to the underground construction.