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20 Oct 2021, 01:30
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A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
65%
(hard)
Question Stats:
61% (02:13) correct
39%
(02:24)
wrong
based on 433
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Columnist: The amount of acidic pollutants released into the air has decreased throughout the world over the last several decades. We can expect, then, an overall decrease in the negative environmental effects of acid rain, which is caused by these acidic pollutants.
Each of the following, if true, would weaken the columnist’s argument EXCEPT:
(A) Some ecosystems have developed sophisticated mechanisms that reduce the negative effects of increased levels of acids in the environment.
(B) The amount of acid-neutralizing buffers released into the air has decreased in recent years.
(C) The current decrease in acidic pollutants is expected to end soon, as more countries turn to coal for the generation of electricity.
(D) The effects of acid rain are cumulative and largely independent of current acid rain levels.
(E) The soils of many ecosystems exposed to acid rain have been exhausted of minerals that help protect them from acid rain’s harmful effects.
Each of the following, if true, would weaken the columnist’s argument EXCEPT:
(A) Some ecosystems have developed sophisticated mechanisms that reduce the negative effects of increased levels of acids in the environment.
(B) The amount of acid-neutralizing buffers released into the air has decreased in recent years.
(C) The current decrease in acidic pollutants is expected to end soon, as more countries turn to coal for the generation of electricity.
(D) The effects of acid rain are cumulative and largely independent of current acid rain levels.
(E) The soils of many ecosystems exposed to acid rain have been exhausted of minerals that help protect them from acid rain’s harmful effects.
21 Oct 2021, 01:15
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Bunuel
EXPLANATION FROM Fox LSAT
If we were to attack the columnist’s argument—and we should always try our hardest to do so—we might say, “Well, aren’t there potentially many causes of acid rain? Perhaps ‘acidic pollutants’ is only one cause. Reducing that single cause might not reduce all causes. Furthermore, even if acid rain were totally eliminated, how do you know that the negative effects of past acid rain won't still be around? For example, perhaps last year’s acid rain is now trapped in our snowpacks and polar icecaps, where it doesn’t currently harm us, but where it is going to ruin us in a few years when it melts?”
The question asks us to identify four weakeners, and to choose the one correct answer that does not weaken. So the correct answer could strengthen the argument, or it could just be irrelevant. Let’s see.
A) This could only possibly strengthen the conclusion that the negative effects of acid rain are going to decrease. So this is probably the answer.
B) This weakens the argument, because if it is true it provides a reason why the overall negative effects of acid rain might actually increase, even if acid rain itself is reduced.
C) This weakens the argument, because if it is true then the reduction in acidic pollutants is soon to reverse itself, which would presumably then lead to a stead —or even increased—level of acid rain.
D) This weakens the argument, along the lines of our “snowpack and polar icecaps” argument above. If this is true, then we would have reason to believe that a reduction in acidic pollutants is not certain to lead to a reduction in the damage caused by acid rain.
E) This also weakens the argument, because if it is true it provides a reason to believe that even a reduced amount of annual acid rain could cause a higher level of damage.
Our answer is A, because B through E are all weakeners and A is, if anything, a strengthener.
General Discussion
20 Oct 2021, 03:11
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Premise - The amount of acidic pollutants released has decreased over the last several decades.
Conclusion - We can an expect a decrease in effects of acid rain.
Assumptions - The amount of acidic pollutants that are added in the acid rain contributes to the -ve effects of the rain.
In this problem, we have to find the choice that DOES NOT WEAKEN the argument.
(A) Some ecosystems have developed sophisticated mechanisms that reduce the negative effects of increased levels of acids in the environment.
Additional factor to reduce the -ve effect does not impact the role of existing factor ( i.e. reduction of acid pollutants).
This choice does not affect the argument.
(B) The amount of acid-neutralizing buffers released into the air has decreased in recent years.
If so, the -ve effect of acid is not likely to be decreased. Weakens.
(C) The current decrease in acidic pollutants is expected to end soon, as more countries turn to coal for the generation of electricity.
A temporary effect is not a solution and hence the -ve effect of the acid rain will not reduce much.Weakens.
(D) The effects of acid rain are cumulative and largely independent of current acid rain levels.
If so, even the decades-old pollutant will continue to contribute the -ve effect. Thus, weakens.
(E) The soils of many ecosystems exposed to acid rain have been exhausted of minerals that help protect them from acid rain’s harmful effects.
Removal of the protection against -ve effect of rain.Thus, -ve effect will not be minimised. Weakens.
IMO A
Conclusion - We can an expect a decrease in effects of acid rain.
Assumptions - The amount of acidic pollutants that are added in the acid rain contributes to the -ve effects of the rain.
In this problem, we have to find the choice that DOES NOT WEAKEN the argument.
(A) Some ecosystems have developed sophisticated mechanisms that reduce the negative effects of increased levels of acids in the environment.
Additional factor to reduce the -ve effect does not impact the role of existing factor ( i.e. reduction of acid pollutants).
This choice does not affect the argument.
(B) The amount of acid-neutralizing buffers released into the air has decreased in recent years.
If so, the -ve effect of acid is not likely to be decreased. Weakens.
(C) The current decrease in acidic pollutants is expected to end soon, as more countries turn to coal for the generation of electricity.
A temporary effect is not a solution and hence the -ve effect of the acid rain will not reduce much.Weakens.
(D) The effects of acid rain are cumulative and largely independent of current acid rain levels.
If so, even the decades-old pollutant will continue to contribute the -ve effect. Thus, weakens.
(E) The soils of many ecosystems exposed to acid rain have been exhausted of minerals that help protect them from acid rain’s harmful effects.
Removal of the protection against -ve effect of rain.Thus, -ve effect will not be minimised. Weakens.
IMO A
