Read the thesis statement from an argumentative essay about the importance of National Parks to the economy.
National parks are very influential role in the economy of the United States because they encourage tourism and create job opportunities.
Which of the following is a counterclaim that the essay’s writer might address?
When national parks have too many visitors, it can cause the destruction of natural and cultural places.
Visitors need a variety of services, which creates jobs for local residents that live nearby national parks.
When national parks were created, it was to protect natural and cultural places.
Visitors need to understand how to throw away their trash when visiting national parks.
Answers
National Parks provide a major boost to Australia’s economy, with nature-based tourism bringing $23 billion into the country every year. Regional communities in particular benefit from the 35.5 million people who visit NSW’s national parks each year, through job creation and money spent on accommodation, fuel and food. The Great Barrier Reef alone attracts more than $6 billion a year in tourist-spending and supports over 63,000 jobs. Intact natural areas also provide a variety of resources and processes vital for human life and the economy. For example protected areas provide a water catchment and filtration service, improving the quality of the water we use for drinking, agriculture and industry. By one analysis these ‘ecosystem services’ are worth US$33 trillion a year.
