Final answer:
The correct answer is D. is not; is. Fried chicken at a picnic is not an example of the Tragedy of the Commons, while a highway during rush hour is an example due to the overuse of a shared resource leading to traffic congestion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase Tragedy of the Commons refers to a scenario in which individual users acting independently according to their own self-interest behave contrary to the common good of all users by depleting or spoiling a shared resource through their collective action. An example of the Tragedy of the Commons could include overfishing in international waters, but not the rise of a particular country to global power, nor the presence of fried chicken at a picnic.
The correct answer to the question is: Fried chicken at a July 1st picnic is not an example of the Tragedy of the Commons; A highway during rush hour is an example of the Tragedy of the Commons. Therefore, the correct option is D. is not; is. The highway situation reflects the common challenge where use of a limited shared resource (road space) without accountability (control or pricing mechanisms) leads to negative outcomes like traffic jams and increased pollution.
Global climate change is a significant example of the Tragedy of the Commons, as countries and individuals may not have the incentive to limit their pollutants, such as CO2, despite the shared negative long-term effects of climate change. In contrast, the situation with fried chicken at a picnic is not an example as it does not reflect a depletable public resource that is used without accountability and leading to negative outcomes for the group.