Which language from the text MOST strongly conveys the author’s point of view that the continued use of gasoline poses a danger to people and the environment?

gasoline cars can go well over 300 miles

this triple threat of issues

with gasoline prices at an all-time high

the world will likely exhaust its oil resources

text Natural Gas, the Cleaner Fuel

1 For the last 100 years, automobiles have mostly been powered by one of two types of fuel: gasoline or diesel. With gasoline prices at an all-time high, however, many people are looking at alternative types of fuel to power their vehicles. People are concerned not only about gas prices, but also about the availability of gasoline as someday the world will likely exhaust its oil resources. In addition, gasoline is causing significant air pollution. When gasoline burns, it releases carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ultrafine particles that negatively affect both people and our environment.

2 This triple threat of issues is causing world leaders and car manufacturers to examine alternative methods of powering vehicles. Hybrid cars and electric cars are becoming more readily available. Hybrid cars are powered by both gasoline and electricity. Many hybrid vehicles can achieve 50 miles per gallon, which allows the driver to use less gasoline and refill the tank less often. Electric cars run entirely on electricity, but these vehicles are limited in both speed and distance. Electric cars are best for city driving because they must be charged frequently, although charging stations are becoming more popular and are sometimes available in mall parking lots and other public areas.

3 There is another option, however. Car manufacturers are finding ways to use natural gas to power vehicles. Many large cities use CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) to power city buses, taxis, and light trucks. However, few consumer cars run on CNG, largely due to the limited availability of natural gas refueling stations.

4 CNG is the cleanest fuel available. On smoggy days, the air that comes out of the tailpipe of a natural gas car is actually cleaner than the air that is drawn into the engine. Compared to all other vehicles, natural gas releases 20 percent less carbon dioxide, one of the main gasses responsible for climate change. In terms of total emissions, a natural-gas vehicle produces 90 percent pollution less than a gasoline-powered car.

5 CNG cars are produced all over the world, but only one type of CNG car currently exists in America, and it is available only in California and New York. The purchase price of a CNG Honda Civic is approximately $6,000 more than a regular Civic and $2,000 more than a hybrid Civic. The sticker price deters many buyers, but the savings in fuel over the life of the car offsets the initial purchase price. In addition, natural gas vehicles would become more affordable if they were manufactured in larger quantities.

6 Despite CNG vehicles being thousands of dollars more expensive, they still offer cheaper fuel costs and less maintenance. The price of natural gas varies, but it averages $1.75 per gallon, while gasoline averages $4 per gallon. A gallon of natural gas goes just as far as a gallon of regular gas. The only difference is that natural gas cars have a range of only 180-200 miles per tank, while gasoline cars can go well over 300 miles per tank.

7 A greater demand for natural gas would not only help our environment, but also create new jobs and help our economy. Current gas stations would have to add natural gas pumps, and new stations would be created in order to meet demand. America’s dependency on foreign oil would decrease and our own economy would be stimulated.

8 While there are some drawbacks to CNG, the positives outweigh the negatives. Instead of spending money searching for new drilling sites for oil, the government should invest in helping Americans purchase alternative-fuel vehicles. In other parts of the world, governments have mandated a switch to natural-gas vehicles regardless of the higher cost of vehicles. In Pakistan and Iran, for instance, the governments made the change because the countries could not meet the demand for gasoline. These two countries now have millions of natural-gas vehicles.

9 A viable option is for the government to offer a significant tax rebate for the purchase of a CNG car. If the higher cost of a CNG car were offset by a rebate, or perhaps by a prepaid credit card that could be used toward buying natural gas, Americans would be much more likely to give up their gasoline cars. Such rebates already exist in other industries. In many cities, families can receive large energy rebates when they purchase new high-efficiency air conditioners, for example. Offering a similar rebate for a CNG car is a wise use of tax dollars in the long run.