Acid rain, caused by high levels of sulfur dioxide and mercury trapped

Acid rain, caused by high levels of sulfur dioxide and mercury trapped in global air currents, affects one third of China’s territory. Coal-fired power plants are notorious for emitting large quantities of these pollutants. To combat the problem, the Chinese national government has set aggressive environmental goals for the next five years. These goals include a 20-percent improvement in energy efficiency and a pledge that, by the end of the five years, 10 percent of the nation’s energy will come from renewable resources such as hydroelectric or wind power.

prethinkg: a correct answer choice should shows somehow that this 20% improvement in energy efficiency can has adverse effect

Which of the following, if true, is the best criticism of the Chinese government’s strategy as a method for achieving a reduction in acid rain?

(A) Some forms of air pollution, such as heavy particulate fumes, would not be affected by the suggested energy improvements. we only care about sulfur dioxide and mercury

(B) Once the changes have been implemented, the actual reduction in acid rain would vary from region to region. even if with implementation of the program one region realize the effect it would be enough!

(C) The goals would be forced on every region in China, including those that have no problems with acid rain.no matter whether a region have problem with acid rain or not. the regulation is compulsory for all the china's territory

(D) Acid rain is also caused by other factors, such as volcanic eruptions or pollution from neighboring countries, over which China has no control.
we don't care about other factors.. just factors mentioned in the argument

(E) Regional Chinese officials tend to ignore environmental regulations in order to meet aggressive economic requirements imposed on their regions’ industries.that's what we prethink

Here the argument is:

Problem: Coal-fired power plants emit large quantities of sulfur dioxide and mercury -> leads to acid rain -> affect 1/3rd of China's territory
Government's strategy to reduce acid rain: aggressive goals set for next 5 years that focus on improving energy efficiency and increase in usage of renewable resources -> reduce emission of Sulphur dioxide & mercury pollutants

Question stem wants us to identify something that can weaken our belief in the success of Chinese government’s strategy

Let us try to pre-think the potential reasons that can lead to a failure:
1. The goal to improve energy efficiency leads to adoption of technologies/anything else which increase Sulphur dioxide and mercury pollutants.
We know that there are 2 goals that are laid out- (i) improve energy efficiency, (ii) increase usage of renewable resources. What if the first goal leads to adoption of some technology that increases the emission of Sulphur dioxide and mercury pollutants?

2. The strategy execution fails due to certain adverse factors:
The government has set targets. Anything that shows that these targets might not be achieved shall reduce our belief in the success of the strategy.

Any option choice that shows that one of the above can happen shall be a potential weakener.

Let us evaluate the option choices:
A. Some forms of air pollution, such as heavy particulate fumes, would not be affected by the suggested energy improvements.
We are only concerned about those pollutants that lead to acid rain, not other air pollutants. The government is currently focusing on reduction of Sulphur dioxide and mercury pollutants to combat acid rain. Therefore, "some pollutant" are irrelevant here.

B. Once the changes have been implemented, the actual reduction in acid rain would vary from region to region.
The goal is to combat acid rain that affects 1/3rd of China's territory. So as long as there is a noticeable reduction, it does not matter if there is a variation in this reduction across regions. Therefore, the option does not suggest that the goal will not be achieved.

C. The goals would be forced on every region in China, including those that have no problems with acid rain.
The option does not tell anything that undermines the success in achieving the goals by those regions that are affected by acid rain. It does not really matter if the goals are forced on other regions.

D. Acid rain is also caused by other factors, such as volcanic eruptions or pollution from neighbouring countries, over which China has no control.
We already know that acid rains that are caused by sulphur dioxide & mercury emissions affect China's 1/3rd territory. The government is trying to reduce acid rain by reducing the emission of these particular pollutants. Therefore, other factors that also cause acid rain hardly matter. Therefore, the option does not suggest that the goal will not be achieved.

]E. Regional Chinese officials tend to ignore environmental regulations in order to meet aggressive economic requirements imposed on their regions’ industries.
This is in-line with the 2nd statement in pre-thinking. It says that the Chinese officials tend to ignore the environment regulations since they are more concerned with economic requirements in their territory. This creates a doubt that the officials might rather ignore the government's plan as well in order to ensure that they meet their economic requirements.

Hope this helps!

I don't know what the right answer is, but i certainly don't think E is the correct answer.
'Chinese officials tend to ignore the environment regulations' is not the issue here. Yes they might ignore environment regulations. But China is aiming at bringing in more 'efficient forms of energy'. i.e. if the current 100% input produces 50% electricity, new forms of electricity would produce 80%. It isn't an environmental regulation. They're not asking to control CO2 or sulphur emissions or anything. They are just bringing in more efficient forms of energy.

You must read the stem carefully, it says the govt has set some goals to achieve a particular target. It is understood that to achieve those goals a human intervention is reqd ie Officers or Law enforcement bodies, and if there is a doubt on the commitment of these officers. In that case I do not think any plan of Chinese govt to achieve the goal will materialize.

Consider Kudos If my post helps!!!

Archit

Acid rain, caused by high levels of sulfur dioxide and mercury trapped in global air currents, affects one third of China’s territory. Coal-fired power plants are notorious for emitting large quantities of these pollutants. To combat the problem, the Chinese national government has set aggressive environmental goals for the next five years. These goals include a 20-percent improvement in energy efficiency and a pledge that, by the end of the five years, 10 percent of the nation’s energy will come from renewable resources such as hydroelectric or wind power.


Which of the following, if true, is the best criticism of the Chinese government’s strategy as a method for achieving a reduction in acid rain?

A. Some forms of air pollution, such as heavy particulate fumes, would not be affected by the suggested energy improvements.
B. Once the changes have been implemented, the actual reduction in acid rain would vary from region to region.
C. The goals would be forced on every region in China, including those that have no problems with acid rain.
D. Acid rain is also caused by other factors, such as volcanic eruptions or pollution from neighboring countries, over which China has no control.
E. Regional Chinese officials tend to ignore environmental regulations in order to meet aggressive economic requirements imposed on their regions’ industries.

Merging similar topic. See above discussion for explanation.
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Acid rain, caused by high levels of sulfur dioxide and mercury trapped in global air currents, affects one third of China’s territory.Coal-fired power plants are notorious for emitting large quantities of these pollutants.To combat the problem, the Chinese national government has set aggressive environmental goals for the next five years.These goals include a 20-percent improvement in energy efficiency and a pledge that, by the end of the five years, 10 percent of the nation’s energy will come from renewable resources such as hydroelectric or wind power.

Which of the following, if true, is the best criticism of the Chinese government’s strategy as a method for achieving a reduction in acid rain?
(A) Some forms of air pollution, such as heavy particulate fumes, would not be affected by the suggested energy improvements. so what....we just need to combat the problem....not eliminte fully.... hence does'nt matter
(B) Once the changes have been implemented, the actual reduction in acid rain would vary from region to region.so what ....some positive changes will be there
(C) The goals would be forced on every region in China, including those that have no problems with acid rain.does'nt weaken....
(D) Acid rain is also caused by other factors, such as volcanic eruptions or pollution from neighboring countries, over which China has no control.so what ... this could still be a positive step
(E) Regional Chinese officials tend to ignore environmental regulations in order to meet aggressive economic requirements imposed on their regions’ industries.this is a weakener ... states that the plan may not be implementable....CORRECT

Donot get how option D can be ruled out. When you are trying to "combat the problem of acid rain" as mentioned above and if you donot have control over some of the factors causing acid rain, how is it not a weakener???? I hope I made my point my clear. Can anyone help??

Acid rain, caused by high levels of sulfur dioxide and mercury trapped in global air currents, affects one third of China’s territory.Coal-fired power plants are notorious for emitting large quantities of these pollutants.To combat the problem, theChinese national government has set aggressive environmental goals for the next five years.These goals include a 20-percent improvement in energy efficiency and a pledge that, by the end of the five years, 10 percent of the nation’s energy will come from renewable resources such as hydroelectric or wind power
Undertstand:
1) AR - caused by SD and M
2) CFPP emit LARGE Q of pollutants
3)CHINESE govt. implementing plan= 20% imp in energy eff
4)10% energy will be renewable ...
conclusion : Plan will reduce AR

Question: WEAKEN

Thought process : AUthor concludes that the plan will reduce AR . Why does he say so? he reasons that CURRENT REGULATIONS ARE NOT ENOUGH and hence implemetion of some regulations will be a better plan . The plan he mentions is proposed, assuming several things.
Assumptions :
1) implemented plan will ACTUALLY BE Implemented.
2) 20% increase is enough.
3)the plan will not actually worsen the situation.
4) relative to the coal powered plant, the construction and other stuff regarding renewable sources will not substantially increase pollutants.

What we want? : An ans choice which will tell us that THOUGH THE PLAN is implemented , it may not actually have any effect/ worsen the situation

(A) Some forms of air pollution, such as heavy particulate fumes, would not be affected by the suggested energy improvements.
- "some" will not be affected.. what about SD and Mercury or for that matter the majority of pollutants. They may still reduce.

(B) Once the changes have been implemented, the actual reduction in acid rain would vary from region to region.
- " vary" ...reduction is still taking place.

(C) The goals would be forced on every region in China, including those that have no problems with acid rain.
-STRENGTHEN plan implemented everywhere.

(D) Acid rain is also caused by other factors, such as volcanic eruptions or pollution from neighboring countries, over which China has no control.
- "also caused".. the author NEVER mentions that AC is ONLY caused by SD and MC. sure there may be other factors. But there may still be reduction in AC pollutants ,viz., SD and MC

(E) Regional Chinese officials tend to ignore environmental regulations in order to meet aggressive economic requirements imposed on their regions’ industries.
- CORRECT: THe plan is implemented by National govt. But what if the local idiot officers, with other motives, do not implement the national regulation LOCALLY? Then the plan may not actually work.

Answer E

Hey gmater12
In order to combat something, we don't have to have control over all of the factors - it's enough to have control over some! If we were trying to completely erase it 100%, then yes - we would need control over everything, and D would weaken the claim. But given that we just need to combat it, D is not a problem.
Does this help?

Option E seems to be giving out of scope info