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In Greenwood, the installation of home-based water purification systems has become increasingly popular. Concurrently, there has been a noticeable increase in the consumption of tap water. Local health advocates assert that the rise in tap water consumption is directly linked to the increased confidence in water quality due to these purification systems.

Which of the following, if true in Greenwood, most seriously undermines the force of the evidence cited?

(A) The majority of water purification systems in Greenwood are used primarily for filtering drinking water, not for general household water usage.

(B) Surveys indicate that Greenwood residents have become more health-conscious, leading to a preference for tap water over other beverages.

(C) Recent widely circulated reports show that the tap water in Greenwood, even without additional purification, meets all safety and quality standards set by health authorities.

(D) The water purification companies in Greenwood have conducted extensive marketing campaigns emphasizing the benefits of consuming purified tap water.

(E) The increase in tap water consumption in Greenwood coincides with a period of higher than average temperatures and extended dry spells.

Solution: We need to determine a weakener for the evidence cited in above passage. The conclusion states that the increased tap water consumption is directly linked to the increased confidence in water quality due to the home based purification systems installed recently. A weakener for this conclusion will be an alternate reason than the purification systems filtration that improved the quality of tap water and led to its increased consumption.

(A) The majority of water purification systems in Greenwood are used primarily for filtering drinking water, not for general household water usage.
Explanation: This option doesn't explain anything regarding the tap water consumption. Out of Scope. INCORRECT

(B) Surveys indicate that Greenwood residents have become more health-conscious, leading to a preference for tap water over other beverages.
Explanation: Even though this option talks about the preference of the residents for tap water over other beverages, it is still possible that residents consumed tap water filtered by the purification systems. This doesn't undermine the conclusion. INCORRECT

(C) Recent widely circulated reports show that the tap water in Greenwood, even without additional purification, meets all safety and quality standards set by health authorities.
Explanation: This is the correct choice as it clearly states that the tap water quality met safety standards and hence was safe to consume even without additional purification. This led to increase in its consumption. Hence, it weakens the conclusion that tap water consumption is increased due to its improved quality by purification system's filtration. CORRECT

(D) The water purification companies in Greenwood have conducted extensive marketing campaigns emphasizing the benefits of consuming purified tap water.
Explanation: This option doesn't help understand how there can be a reason for consuming more tap water other than that it is because of the improved quality of filtration by the purification systems. INCORRECT

(E) The increase in tap water consumption in Greenwood coincides with a period of higher than average temperatures and extended dry spells.
Explanation: This option doesn't help understand how there can be a reason for consuming more tap water other than that it is because of the improved quality of filtration by the purification systems. INCORRECT

Option C is the right choice.
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So the OA is
(C) Recent widely circulated reports show that the tap water in Greenwood, even without additional purification, meets all safety and quality standards set by health authorities.

Yet (C) contains several flaws, two of which are as follows:
(1) "widely circulated reports" can mean the reports are widely known within the industry not necessarily to the general public. Even if they are covered and reported to the community, people may not pay heed to the reports.
(2) More importantly, the tap water quality is typically assessed at the water plants. The pipes from the water plants to household faucets, however, may and oftentimes do deteriorate and introduce impurities / hazardous materials into the otherwise safe water. The home-based water purification systems are useful to remove water adulteration and improve consumers' confidence in imbibing processed tap water.
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So the OA is
(C) Recent widely circulated reports show that the tap water in Greenwood, even without additional purification, meets all safety and quality standards set by health authorities.

Yet (C) contains several flaws, two of which are as follows:
(1) "widely circulated reports" can mean the reports are widely known within the industry not necessarily to the general public. Even if they are covered and reported to the community, people may not pay heed to the reports.
(2) More importantly, the tap water quality is typically assessed at the water plants. The pipes from the water plants to household faucets, however, may and oftentimes do deteriorate and introduce impurities / hazardous materials into the otherwise safe water. The home-based water purification systems are useful to remove water adulteration and improve consumers' confidence in imbibing processed tap water.

Thank you very much for the feedback.
Very good point about #2 I think this question will have to significantly modified or decommissioned.
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