Final answer:
The passage aims to describe the environmental consequences of the U.S. population growth, with a focus on the high energy usage per person in the U.S. and its global implications. It underscores the challenges in sustaining this level of consumption against finite planetary resources and the significant impact of even a modest population increase when considering the high consumption rate in the U.S. The correct option of choice is C. describe the environmental implications of rapid U.S. population growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Environmental Impact of U.S. Population Growth
The primary purpose of the passage is to describe the environmental implications of rapid U.S. population growth. It highlights that the ecological impact of the U.S. population is magnified due to the high per-capita energy usage. To contextualize, although the U.S. makes up less than 5 percent of the world's population, it is responsible for a disproportionally larger share of global energy consumption. Comparisons to countries like India and Niger emphasize the global inequality in resource use and the enormous strain an increasing population can place on global resources when considering high consumption rates like those in the U.S.
Furthermore, the possibility of the world's population reaching U.S. standards of consumption poses a demanding challenge. If everyone on Earth consumed as much energy as the average American, there would be a need for tremendous increases in energy production, which might not be sustainable. The passage touches on the idea of finite resources and the effects of population growth against the backdrop of limited planetary capacity to sustain such growth and consumption levels. It also provides insights into the significant influence the U.S. has on global resource demand due to its population dynamics and high levels of consumption.