Albert: The government has proposed new automobile emissions

Albert: The government has proposed new automobile emissions regulations designed to decrease the amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) released into the atmosphere by automobile exhaust. I don???t see the need for such regulations; although PAHs are suspected of causing cancer, a causal link has never been proven.

Erin: Scientists also blame PAHs for 10,000 premature deaths in this country each year from lung and heart disease. So the proposed regulations would save thousands of lives.

Which one of the following, if true, is the logically strongest counter that Albert can make to Erin???s argument?

(A) Most automobile manufacturers are strongly opposed to additional automobile emissions regulations.
(B) It is not known whether PAHs are a causal factor in any diseases other than heart and lung disease and cancer.
(C) Even if no new automobile emissions regulations are enacted, the amount of PAHs released into the atmosphere will decrease if automobile usage declines.
(D) Most of the PAHs released into the atmosphere are the result of wear and tear on automobile tires.
(E) PAHs are one of several components of automobile exhaust that scientists suspect of causing cancer.
can you plz explain option (C) I am really facing problem in how to eliminate this option
THANK YOU

Hello, honey1. The problem with (C), as I see it, is that it assumes an outcome based on a conditional statement. There is no evidence in the passage to suggest that auto users are, in fact, going to decrease their driving time. Besides, Erin is arguing that the proposed regulations would save thousands of lives. The goal, then, in a counterargument is to deal that statement a blow. Choice (D) is just what we want to that end. If most, and not just some, of the PAHs released into the atmosphere are the result of wear and tear on automobile tires, then it would appear as though tires are the primary problem, not automobile exhaust. Thus, regulations on auto emissions are likely to miss the real culprit, and such a counterargument would appear well reasoned.

I hope that helps. Good luck with your studies.

- Andrew

Pre-thinking:

Erin's argument: The regulations limiting PAH emissions are good because they save thousands of lives.

We are required to counter this argument. We are looking for an option that suggests that PAH emission regulations will not save lives. Let us look at the answer options.

(A) Most automobile manufacturers are strongly opposed to additional automobile emissions regulations. This does not address PAH emissions or its harmful effects. Eliminate.

(B) It is not known whether PAHs are a causal factor in any diseases other than heart and lung disease and cancer. Even if this were true, this implies that PAHs are a causal factor in heart and lung disease and cancer. Therefore, PAH emission regulations are helpful. Eliminate.

(C) Even if no new automobile emissions regulations are enacted, the amount of PAHs released into the atmosphere will decrease if automobile usage declines. This conditions the reduction of PAH emissions on decrease in automobile usage and does not weaken Erin's argument. Eliminate.

(D) Most of the PAHs released into the atmosphere are the result of wear and tear on automobile tires. Correct answer. If this were true, PAH emission regulations will not help since most of the PAH is not from automobile emissions but form other sources.

(E) PAHs are one of several components of automobile exhaust that scientists suspect of causing cancer. If other components also cause cancer, it does not preclude the harmful effects of PAH itself and does not weaken Erin's argument. Eliminate.

Hope this helps.

Srini

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