Since the 1970s, a multitude of scientists from the fields of climatol

5. Which of the following, if true, would best reconcile the claim that developing nations like India and China “actually emit more greenhouse gases than most industrialized nations” with the previously stated claim that “the per-capita emissions of greenhouse gases from these nations are so much lower than those of industrialized nations”?

A. Both China and India have larger populations than any three industrialized nations combined.
With larger populations in China and India vis-a-vis 'any three industrialized nations combined', there is merit in concluding that the per-capita emissions of greenhouse gases from these nations will be much lower than those of industrialized nations.

B. Once China and India develop economically to a level comparable to that of an industrialized nation in Europe or North America, it is expected that these previously developing countries will have to limit their carbon emissions as well.
Futuristic prediction..doesn't reconcile the stated claim in the question

C. The concept of “greenhouse gases” is controversial because it has not been proven definitively that the “greenhouse effect” exists.
Stating a fact..will not impact the stated claim in any manner

D. Some of the most advanced forms of industry, such as the computer industry and biotechnology, emit far less greenhouse gases per unit of economic output than less advanced industries, such as agriculture or heavy manufacturing.
While the statement may be true, there is no mention in the passage about various forms of industry existing in industrialised nations and other nations such as China and India.

E. Economic development in developing countries such as India and China is hampered by lack of investment capital, lack of economic infrastructure, and the presence of persistent social problems that hinder government efforts to spur development.
Irrelevant option..as the facts stated herein doesn't concern evaluation of the per-capita emissions of greenhouse gases

(A) is the correct answer
_________________

6. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument of the critics of the Kyoto Protocol that implementing the protocol would be too costly?

A. While it is true that the scientific community is not unanimously in agreement that global warming is occurring, more than 95 percent of climatologists at universities and government-funded laboratories in Europe and North America agree that global warming is a real phenomenon.
This option doesn't highlight the expenditure aspects regarding the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol

B. Hybrid fuel-cell cars are less expensive to operate than conventional cars because of their much greater fuel efficiency, but it is unlikely that these operational savings will ever be able to cost-justify the much greater initial investment required to purchase one of these hybrid cars.
Deterrent of large initial investment 'strengthens' the argument of the critics..contrary to the question stimulus

C. Nuclear power, although completely free of carbon emissions and comparable in operating cost to an oil-burning power plant, brings the added back-end cost of disposing of the spent nuclear waste, which is both radioactive and highly toxic.
Higher cost of disposal of nuclear wastes will justify the critics' argument..hence, this option is also contrary to the question stimulus

D. Although it is unfair in a sense to impose different emissions restrictions on different countries, it is only fair to impose the most restrictive limitations on countries whose advanced economic development will allow them to conform to the regulations without losing the benefits of an industrialized economy.
Out of scope option, since this option also doesn't highlight the expenditure aspects regarding the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol

E. One nation that switched the fuel of 35 percent of its power plants from coal to natural gas in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions found that natural gas, although initially more expensive than coal, dropped in price to a level comparable to that of coal because natural gas companies increased production in order to meet the market demand.
With larger demand, the drop in prices of natural gas will lead to reduction of the implementation costs..thus 'weakening' the critics' argument hat implementing the protocol would be too costly

(E) is the correct answer
_________________