The search for NEOs (or ”Near Earth Objects”) has intensified greatly

Doer01, It's good to be watchful.
However, Let's Deep-Dive!

Excerpt from the passage:

Indeed, in recent years much of the burden for accurately evaluating the risks posed by NEOs has been shouldered by amateur astronomers. Therefore, we should reserve larger, professional telescopes for uses other than finding NEOs.

Meaning: The AAs ( amateur astronomers ) are providing aid to the ReliableScientificCommunity, which ideally takes care of finding the NEOs.

Now, notice E:

E. Amateur astronomers primarily provide follow-up observations AFTER NEO discoveries have been made by the use of larger, computerized telescopes.
- Notice, the impact made by the AAs is merely a follow-up.- Nothing substantial or pertinent is done.
Thus, one CANNOT rely on the findings/assertions of the AAs.

To answer your query:

Even if one does NOT necessarily incline on the Yes-part,

1st half of E: Amateur astronomers primarily provide follow-up observations AFTER NEO discoveries
is ENOUGH to weaken the belief.

Moreover, One HAS to choose an answer, which most seriously weakens the argument.

Q-statement: Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?
Surely, E does so.

The search for NEOs has intensified greatly with amateur astronomers.
By combining their observations they are capable of accurately determining the orbits and motions of asteroids that could hit the Earth.
In recent years, much of the burden for accurately evaluating the risks posed by NEOs has been shouldered by amateur astronomers.

Conclusion: We should reserve larger, professional telescopes for uses other than finding NEOs.

We need to say why it may not be a good idea to take away prof telescopes from NEO search. So correct option would highlight some weakness of amateurs or useful capability of professional telescopes.

A. Because of their numbers, amateur astronomers as a group are much more efficient than are individual professional telescopes at accurately determining NEO orbits.

Talks about why amateurs do a good job. Irrelevant.

B. Because large telescopes are often controlled by governments or institutions, professional scientists do not always have full discretion to use these telescopes any way they would like.

We are talking about what should be done. Who does it (govt or professional scientists), we don't care.

C. Most amateur astronomers do not have any professional training in astronomy.

Irrelevant. Amateurs are doing a good job.

D. NASA has set a goal of finding at least 90% of the estimated 1000 NEOs larger than 1 kilometer in diameter.

Irrelevant. We are saying that NASA should focus on other things.

E. Amateur astronomers primarily provide follow-up observations after NEO discoveries have been made by the use of larger, computerized telescopes.

Correct. Prof telescopes find the NEOs. Amateurs provide follow up. If professional telescopes do not do their job, amateurs may be useless.
The option talks about amateur vs larger, computerized telescopes. It is obvious we are talking about amateur telescopes vs the large professional ones.

Answer (E)

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