Since 1985, pollution levels in Lake Thomas have dropped

c. The water refinement process creates an environment extremely favorable to pike, a predator fish.


A. This is cause decling even with pollution.

B. No affect on the population "benign"

C. Predator thrives sunfish population declines... correct answer.

D. Out of scope

E. Out of scope.

no doubt here about C

we need to find alternative reason for lower population of this sunfish, that is not directly related to cleaning the pollution of the lake, which is C

I think its C.

Good Job.

Again, akamaibrah was gracious enough to explain:

"My choice is definitely C.

Remember, we are trying to explain the decrease in Sunfish...

(A) states that number of offspring is DIMINISHED by pollution. Hence, if we REDUCE pollution, offspring will no longer be diminished. This certainly does not explain the decrease in Sunfish -- more likely it inplies that an eventually increase will occur.

(B) states that the chemical do not harm fish. Hence, this does not explain the decrease in Sunfish.

(C) states that a predatory fish thrives in the environment created by the refinery. Nitpicking aside, since the subject of the argument is the "sunfish", it is reasonable to assume that the term "predatory" refers to the relationship of the pike to the sunfish. This would certanly explain a decrease in sunfish and IMO is the best choice.

(D). states that the heaviest concentration of pike are far away from the refinery. While this is consistent with (C), it does not in itself explain an overall decrease in the sunfish population.

(E) does nothing to explain the decrease in Sunfish since 1985 and is irrelavent. In fact, it removes a possible explaination for the decrease."

Clear winner C.

I will also go with C.

Could you give us the OA Praetorian.

I have a problem with C - it mentions 'creates an environment extremely favorable to pike' - this does not imply that pikes exist in the lake as well. All it says is that the environment is pike friendly.

C it is........

C it is