The calm, shallow waters of coastal estuaries are easily polluted by

Question

The calm, shallow waters of coastal estuaries are easily polluted by nutrient-rich sewage. When estuary waters become overnutrified as a result, algae proliferate. The abundant algae, in turn, sometimes provide a rich food source for microorganisms that are toxic to fish, thereby killing most of the fish in the estuary.

Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the information above?

Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the information above?

(A) Fish in an estuary that has been polluted by sewage are generally more likely to die from pollution than are fish in an estuary that has been polluted in some other way.
(B) In estuary waters that contain abundant algae, microorganisms that are toxic to fish reproduce more quickly than other types of microorganisms.
(C) Nutrients and other components of sewage do not harm fish in coastal estuaries in any way other than through the resulting proliferation of toxic microorganisms.
(D) Algae will not proliferate in coastal estuaries that are not polluted by nutrient-rich sewage.
(E) Overnutrifying estuary waters by sewage can result in the death of most of the fish in the estuary.

LSAT

broall · Answer

The argument:
nutrient-rich sewage pollute estuaries => algae proliferate => sometimes microorganisms proliferate => kill most of the fish in the estuary.

(A) Fish in an estuary that has been polluted by sewage are generally more likely to die from pollution than are fish in an estuary that has been polluted in some other way.
 The argument makes no comparison between fish polluted by sewage and fish polluted by other way

(B) In estuary waters that contain abundant algae, microorganisms that are toxic to fish reproduce more quickly than other types of microorganisms.
 The argument doesn't provide any information indicated that microorganisms reproduce more quickly than other types of microorganisms.

(C) Nutrients and other components of sewage do not harm fish in coastal estuaries in any way other than through the resulting proliferation of toxic microorganisms.
 The argument doesn't indicate that toxic microorganisms are the only reason to kill the fish. Toxic microorganisms are just a possible reason.

(D) Algae will not proliferate in coastal estuaries that are not polluted by nutrient-rich sewage.
 The argument provides no information indicated that algae will only proliferate in coastal estuaries that are polluted by nutrient-rich sewage.

(E) Overnutrifying estuary waters by sewage can result in the death of most of the fish in the estuary.
 Correct. This choice just restates the final sentence.

chesstitans · Answer

there is a gmat question in OG that has the similar pattern and content to this LSAT question. Thus, ones need to take this question seriously for gmat practice. 
Also, I note that all options choice except E are extreme. This question has a distinct pattern.

FlyingCycle · Answer

no doubt the answer is E but isn't D a contrapositive for the cause and effect?

Sewage nutrient --> Proliferation of Algae
No Algae --> No sewage?

Avinashkr29 · Answer

All answers are extreme and add new information apart from E.

dhineshpg · Answer

Had the same doubt in mind. Unless someone gives lucid explanation, we should select the less strong answer amongst two top choices.

BLTN · Answer

Dear  dhineshpg 
the stimulus provides info: "When estuary waters become overnutrified as a result, algae proliferate."
Conditions: 
Waters become overnutrified - > Algae proliferate
OR
 Algae proliferate  - >   Waters become overnutrified

But, stimulus does not stay that polluted by nutrient-rich sewage - > algae proliferate
The following is not a conditional statement:

Dear  KarishmaB 
could you check my reasoning.

unraveled · Answer

The calm, shallow waters of coastal estuaries are easily polluted by nutrient-rich sewage. When estuary waters become overnutrified as a result, algae proliferate. The abundant algae, in turn, sometimes provide a rich food source for microorganisms that are toxic to fish, thereby killing most of the fish in the estuary.

Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the information above?

Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the information above?

(A) Fish in an estuary that has been polluted by sewage are generally more likely to die from pollution  than  are fish in an estuary that has been polluted in some other way. - WRONG. No such compared can be inferred.
(B) In estuary waters that contain abundant algae,  microorganisms  that are toxic to fish  reproduce more quickly than other types of microorganisms . - WRONG. Reproduction not discussed.
(C) Nutrients and other components of sewage  do not harm fish  in coastal estuaries  in any way other than  through the resulting proliferation of toxic microorganisms. - WRONG. No such possibilities are discussed or suggested in the passage.
(D)  Algae will not proliferate  in coastal estuaries that are  not polluted by nutrient-rich sewage . - WRONG. Either of the red text can be either true or false.
(E)  Overnutrifying  estuary waters by sewage can  result  in the  death of most of the fish  in the estuary. - CORRECT. 
This is as easy as it can get. However, E just reiterates the passage - it's not even a rephrase.

Answer E.

playthegame · Answer

E must be true. We can map the following causal chain of events from the passage:

nutrient-rich sewage >>  pollute coastal estuaries >>  overnutrification >> lots of algae >> possibly feeds toxic microorganisms >> most of the fish in the estuary die
We can see that the possibility that (E) presents must be true, if the statements in the passage are true.

Option D is close but it not the only condition so it can be false and need not be true for this argument.

Ghuhan · Answer

It’s an Inference question not an Assumption (Trap option)

The calm, shallow waters of coastal estuaries are easily polluted by

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The calm, shallow waters of coastal estuaries are easily polluted by

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