Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the question that follows.

Nearly four decades ago, a coalition of rural villagers in a secluded region of the Andes halted a corporate logging operation slated to clear a nearby forest. This confrontation sparked the regional conservation movement, symbolizing a broader wave of ecological conflicts throughout the late 20th century. These disputes spanned disputes over woodlands, marine fisheries, and communal grazing lands, as well as protests against massive hydroelectric projects and unchecked mining operations. In each instance, the expansion of urban markets and industrial growth restricted rural populations from utilizing the natural resources vital for their daily sustenance.

While environmentalism in wealthier nations often centered on preserving wild areas and safeguarding endangered fauna, the movement in this developing region was driven by basic human survival. It emerged as an advocacy system of the marginalized, fusing demands for social equity with ecological sustainability. Proponents contended that the prevailing systems of resource exploitation disenfranchised local populations while degrading the natural habitats they depended on.

Decades ago, when state-controlled economic planning predominated, critics initially dismissed these local conservation efforts as foreign-backed interference. Over time, however, the persistence of these demonstrations compelled the administration to implement regulatory reforms. Environmental protection agencies were created, and new legislation was enacted to limit pollution and conserve primary forests. Yet, when economic liberalization policies were introduced in the 1990s, the reduction of state oversight led to even more aggressive exploitation of natural habitats by private enterprises, surpassing the ecological damage caused under the previous state-run system.

Identify the statements that can be concluded from the passage.

(a) The movement shared common ground with other grassroots campaigns opposing commercial appropriation of common resources.
(b) Rural people initiated the movement because access to life-supporting natural resources was threatened.
(c) Critics first characterized the movement as externally influenced during the era of government-directed planning.

The correct option is All three statements.

Let us analyze each statement based on the information provided in the passage step-by-step:

Analysis of Statement (a):
Statement (a) states: "The movement shared common ground with other grassroots campaigns opposing commercial appropriation of common resources."
According to the first paragraph, the confrontation in the Andes "sparked the regional conservation movement, symbolizing a broader wave of ecological conflicts throughout the late 20th century. These disputes spanned disputes over woodlands, marine fisheries, and communal grazing lands..." where "the expansion of urban markets and industrial growth restricted rural populations from utilizing the natural resources vital for their daily sustenance." This demonstrates that the movement shared common ground with other regional ecological conflicts opposing commercial exploitation of shared natural resources. Thus, statement (a) can be concluded from the text.

Analysis of Statement (b):
Statement (b) states: "Rural people initiated the movement because access to life-supporting natural resources was threatened."
The passage mentions that "a coalition of rural villagers in a secluded region of the Andes halted a corporate logging operation slated to clear a nearby forest" and explains that "the movement in this developing region was driven by basic human survival." It further highlights that industrial resource exploitation disenfranchised local populations while degrading the natural habitats required for their daily sustenance. Thus, statement (b) can be concluded from the text.

Analysis of Statement (c):
Statement (c) states: "Critics first characterized the movement as externally influenced during the era of government-directed planning."
The third paragraph explicitly states: "Decades ago, when state-controlled economic planning predominated, critics initially dismissed these local conservation efforts as foreign-backed interference." Here, "state-controlled economic planning" directly corresponds to "government-directed planning," and "initially dismissed... as foreign-backed interference" corresponds to "first characterized... as externally influenced." Thus, statement (c) can be concluded from the text.

Conclusion:
Since statements (a), (b), and (c) are all logically supported by the passage, the correct answer is All three statements.