Country Y uses its scarce foreign-exchange reserves to buy scrap iron for recycling into steel. Although the
steel thus produced earns more foreign exchange than it costs, that policy is foolish. Country Y’s own
territory has vast deposits of iron ore, which can be mined with minimal expenditure of foreign exchange.
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest support for Country Y’s policy of buying scrap iron
abroad?

(A) The price of scrap iron on international markets rose significantly in 1987.
(B) Country Y’s foreign-exchange reserves dropped significantly in 1987.
(C) There is virtually no difference in quality between steel produced from scrap iron and that produced from
iron ore.
(D) Scrap iron is now used in the production of roughly half the steel used in the world today, and experts
predict that scrap iron will be used even more extensively in the future.
(E) Furnaces that process scrap iron can be built and operated in Country Y with substantially less foreign
exchange than can furnaces that process iron ore

Hello,
D: Scrap iron is now used in the production of roughly half the steel used in the world today, and experts
predict that scrap iron will be used even more extensively in the future.

For me "D" seems to be not correct as Country "Y" cannot buy large amounts of scrap iron with the few foriegn reserves that they have. So it does not matter whether steel will have substantially made from scrap iron.

The Option "E" still puzzles me..
"Furnaces that process scrap iron can be built and operated in Country Y with substantially less foreign
exchange than can furnaces that process iron ore"

First, Country "Y" has to be buy scrap iron with the foreign costs. Though the cost of processing the scrap is much less than processing iron ore,
it is not mentioned about the cost of buying the scrap where as iron ore is readily avaiable without foreign costs .. So still not clear.

this seems like a strengthen question. could the mods update the topic?

Question Que: "seriously weaken"
Question Type: weaken, argument

To weaken this type of question:
1. find conclusion 2.find evidence (premise) 3.find assumption (gap) 4. ATTACK the gap (alternate cause)

Conclusion: Farmers cut tree, then more water flow

Evidence: water supply is strictly control: farms along the river have limited access to water for irrigation use.

Assumption (pre-thinking that closes the gap):
Trees are not beneficial in water irrigation. Therefore, if Cut tree, irrigation will improve.

Weaken:
Trees are beneficial in water irrigation. Therefore, if Cut tree, irrigation will get worst

Answer Choice C:
A. Cut tree , water lost through evaporation.