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VarunBhardwaj
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+1 for B
The plan is to remove the excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
If seaweeds produce the same amount of Carbon dioxide what they consumed during their lifetime.
Then the plan is certainly not going to work.
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The OA is wrong here. The correct answer is B.
E is OFS.
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The OA was changed per request. As the result the Timer Stats is completely out of whack.

Thanks!
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Answer is certainly B.

We're talking about reducing excess CO2 emissions by increasing the amount that seaweed plants can absorb. So, if burning them after they die creates as much CO2 as they've absorbed in their lifetime, we're basically defeating the purpose!
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Conclusion : Plan to remove excess CO2 through seaweed will succeed.
Missing info : Effects of Burning dead seaweed plant on the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere

(A) Some areas of ocean in the Southern Hemisphere do not contain sufficient nutrients to support large seaweed farms.
Okay so some area of ocean won’t support seaweeds but we can always look for areas which will support.
Does NOT harm our argument and its conclusion.

(B) When a seaweed plant is burned, it releases an amount of carbon dioxide comparable to the amount it has absorbed in its lifetime.
Perfect answer. In line with our thinking.

(C) Even if seaweed farms prove effective, some people will be reluctant to switch to this new fuel.
Use of seaweed as a fuel is not the issue. And anyways if some people will be reluctant, then other who are not will switch and consume the same.

(D) Each year about seven billion tons of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere but only about five billion tons are absorbed by plant life.
Irrelevant. How much excess is the CO2 in the atmosphere is NOT the issue in the argument.

(E) Seaweed farms would make more money by farming seaweed to sell as nutritional supplements than by farming seaweed to sell as fuel.
Irrelevant. The plan is not to make money but to remove the excess CO2 from the atmosphere.
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Merged topics. Please, search before posting questions!
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Imo B
It gives us the flaw inherent in the argument.
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agree with B for GMAT.
But if we bring common sence into answering this question for actual worls scenario, wouldnt CO2 produced from seeweed as a fuel = recycling.
Instead of using other sources of fuel which produce CO2, if we use seeweed, it will absorb equal amount of CO2 produced during its combusion. So alltogether reducing the amount of CO2. :)
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Let’s look at the stimulus given-

Scientists are discussing ways to remove excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by increasing the amount that is absorbed by plant life.

Plan-
One plan to accomplish this is to establish giant floating seaweed farms in the oceans.

When the seaweed plants die, they will be disposed of by being burned for fuel.

We need to look for an option that indicates a weakness in the plan.

(A) Some areas of ocean in the Southern Hemisphere do not contain sufficient nutrients to support large seaweed farms.

Some areas of the ocean in the Southern Hemisphere do not contain sufficient nutrients. This does not impact the plan as it is only talking about a relatively small area. As long as large areas contain sufficient nutrients to support the large seaweed farms, the plan is likely to succeed. This does not indicate any weakness in the plan. Eliminate.

(B) When a seaweed plant is burned, it releases an amount of carbon dioxide comparable to the amount it has absorbed in its lifetime.

The plan is to grow seaweed plants to remove excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and to burn seaweed plants after they die.
Option B says that seaweed plants release an amount of carbon dioxide similar to the amount it has absorbed in its lifetime.
In that case, growing seaweed plants to remove excess carbon dioxide will not make any sense. B points out a weakness in the plan and is correct.

(C) Even if seaweed farms prove effective, some people will be reluctant to switch to this new fuel.
The question is whether they will be effective to solve the problem at hand. People being reluctant to use is beyond the scope of the argument. Eliminate.

(D) Each year about seven billion tons of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere but only about five billion tons are absorbed by plant life.
Option D only provides all the more reason to support the plan. Eliminate.

(E) Seaweed farms would make more money by farming seaweed to sell as nutritional supplements than by farming seaweed to sell as fuel.

Making money is beyond the scope of the argument. Eliminate.


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Scientists are discussing ways to remove excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by increasing the amount that is absorbed by plant life. One plan to accomplish this is to establish giant floating seaweed farms in the oceans. When the seaweed plants die, they will be disposed of by being burned for fuel.

Which of the following, if true, would indicate the most serious weakness in the plan above?

(A) Some areas of ocean in the Southern Hemisphere do not contain sufficient nutrients to support large seaweed farms.
Seaweed farms can be set up in other areas of ocean. This does not seriously undermine the plan.

(B) When a seaweed plant is burned, it releases an amount of carbon dioxide comparable to the amount it has absorbed in its lifetime.
This hurts the plan most severely as setting up seaweed farms will not result in a net decrease in carbon dioxide. CO2 generated = CO2 absorbed.

(C) Even if seaweed farms prove effective, some people will be reluctant to switch to this new fuel.
The plants could still remove CO2

(D) Each year about seven billion tons of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere but only about five billion tons are absorbed by plant life.
The plants would still remove CO2 from the atmosphere. The plan is not to remove ALL CO2 generated each year, but only to reduce the amount of CO2.

(E) Seaweed farms would make more money by farming seaweed to sell as nutritional supplements than by farming seaweed to sell as fuel.
This introduces an alternative plan, but does not hurt the plan proposed. The plants would still reduce CO2 in the atmosphere.
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