The Main Reason That Surface Water Pollution Has Largely Decreased

question 13

Multiple Choice

The main reason that surface water pollution has largely decreased in the United States since 1950 is

• A)the Clean Water Act.
• B)a series of epidemics that inspired action.
• C)the discovery of newer technology that makes it cheaper not to pollute.
• D)decreases in water withdrawal for industrial uses.
• E)the emphasis in 1950 of watershed management.

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Definitions:

Fixed Cost

Costs that do not change with the level of production or sales, such as rent, salaries, and loan repayments.

Economies of Scale

The cost advantages that a business can exploit by expanding their scale of production, leading to a lower cost per unit.

Diseconomies of Scale

Increased costs per unit that occur when a company grows too large, leading to inefficiencies.

Long-Run Average Cost Curve

A graphical representation showing the minimum cost per unit at which a firm can produce any given level of output in the long run when all inputs are variable.