Read the following passage and answer the question that follows. Your answers to these items should be based on the passage only.

Researchers simulated street lighting on artificial grassland plots containing pea-aphids, sap-sucking insects, at night. These were exposed to two different types of light - a white light similar to newer commercial LED lights and an amber light similar to sodium street lamps. The low intensity amber light was shown to inhibit, rather than induce, flowering in a wild plant of the pea family which is a source of food for the pea-aphids in grasslands. The number of aphids was also significantly suppressed under the light treatment due to the limited amount of food available.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most critical inference that can be made from the passage given above?

The Correct answer is 'Light pollution can have a permanent adverse impact on an ecosystem.'

Key Points

• The passage shows how light affects plants and animals.
• For example, when the light is not bright enough, some plants don't bloom well. This is a problem for some bugs (like aphids) that eat those plants because there's less food for them.
• The experiment mentioned tells us that plants under a specific light (amber light) didn’t flower much. This is important because it shows that the kind of light can change how plants grow and how much food animals have.
• The idea that different lights affect plants and animals shows why we need to be careful with outdoor lights. It's not just about seeing at night; it’s about keeping nature balanced.
• By linking the health of plants to the well-being of animals, the text tells us that both need the right kind of light to thrive. It's a big reminder of how everything in nature is connected.
• This explanation makes it clear that having the right light is very important for both plants and animals to live well together.

Correct answer: Option 2