nightblade354 wrote:
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A solar-powered desalination system could provide about 2.25 gallons of fresh drinking water per day for each square foot of solar collecting area established in the area. Such systems could potentially help serve arid areas, providing an efficient, low-cost water source to local towns. Though still in the development phase, scientists are hopeful that the system will eventually help millions across the world access efficient, low-cost drinking water.
Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?
(A) Arid areas are typically amenable to the construction of new homes
(B) When scientists have been hopeful about systems in the past, they are usually successful
(C) Similar systems built in urban settings have been efficient, low-cost, and successful
(D) In Arid areas, there is an almost unlimited amount of undeveloped space surrounding towns
(E) The desalination process will also work with moonlight, not just sunlight
Correct answer: D
(A): Incorrect. Irrelevant; the argument only concerns the delivery of fresh water to existing homes in arid areas.
(B): Incorrect. (B) relies on the past to predict the future without relying on any evidence pertaining to the matter-at-hand.
(C): Incorrect. Out of scope; we cannot say for certain that a system that works in an urban area will work similarly effectively in an arid area. (Note for question-writer: If these systems aren't currently deployed in many urban areas, their deployment could still help deliver water to millions. Further, an urban area is not the opposite of an arid area).
(D): Correct. The deployment of these systems relies on available space. If space is plentiful, the deployment is more likely to succeed.
(E): Incorrect. Out of scope: we do not know whether working with moonlight will make these systems more effective than they would be with just sunlight.
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12 Feb 2020, 08:07
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