(Originais Teachy 2024) - Questão Difícil de Inglês

In a complex analysis of contemporary post-apocalyptic fiction, a literary scholar interprets that these narratives often serve as cautionary tales about the consequences of global inaction. The scholar argues that authors employ 'if...then' constructions not only to imagine the outcomes of different actions (or inactions) but also to comment on present-day social, environmental, and political issues. Consider the following excerpt from a post-apocalyptic novel: 'If the governments had heeded the warnings of scientists, then the catastrophic climate events might have been averted. But now, as the last remnants of civilization struggle to survive, there seems to be no way back.' In the given context, identify the type of 'if...then' construction used in the passage and determine its hypothetical meaning in relation to the narrative's discourse on global repercussions.