nightblade354 wrote:
Columnist: There are certain pesticides that, even though they have been banned for use in the United States for nearly 30 years, are still manufactured there and exported to other countries. In addition to jeopardizing the health of people in these countries, this practice greatly increases the health risk to U.S. consumers, for these pesticides are often used on agricultural products imported into the United States.
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the columnist’s argument?
(A) Trace amounts of some of the pesticides banned for use in the United States can be detected in the soil where they were used 30 years ago
(B) Most of the pesticides that are manufactures in the United States and exported are not among those banned for use in the United States
(C) The United States is not the only country that manufactures and exports the pesticides that are banned for use in the United States
(D) The banned pesticides pose a greater risk to people in the countries in which they are used than to U.S. consumers
(E) There are many pesticides that are banned for use in other countries that are not banned for use in the United States
Source: LSAT
Certain banned pesticides are manufactured and exported.
This practice increases health risk to US consumers (in addition to health risk to people of other countries) because imported products have these pesticides.
We need to weaken the argument. We need to say why this practice may not be responsible for the health risks.
(A) Trace amounts of some of the pesticides banned for use in the United States can be detected in the soil where they were used 30 years ago
Irrelevant. We are talking about the imported products carrying some of these pesticides. US soil still containing trace amounts is irrelevant.
(B) Most of the pesticides that are manufactures in the United States and exported are not among those banned for use in the United States
Most pesticides exported are not the banned ones but some are. These banned ones are found on imported products. We need to say why this practice of exporting some banned pesticides may not be responsible for health risks.
(C) The United States is not the only country that manufactures and exports the pesticides that are banned for use in the United States
This says that other countries also manufacture and export these pesticides. So it is possible that the pesticide we find on imported products in US are the ones manufactured by other countries. Hence it is possible that this practice may not be responsible for the health risk faced by US. Perhaps the same practice practiced by other countries is responsible for the health risk in US. Hence it weakens the argument (as sinister as it may be!).
(D) The banned pesticides pose a greater risk to people in the countries in which they are used than to U.S. consumers
Irrelevant. The point is whether this practice of manufacturing and exporting pesticides poses a health risk. Who is at greater risk is not relevant.
(E) There are many pesticides that are banned for use in other countries that are not banned for use in the United States.
Other pesticides are irrelevant.
Answer (C)