According to recent study data, greenhouse gas emissions from fossil

Question

According to recent study data, greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-based vehicles are a major contributor to global climate instability. One plan to reduce greenhouse gases within the United States is to encourage the production of corn-based ethanol fuels. Such "biofuels" burn cleaner and therefore emit fewer harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. To encourage production, financial incentives could be given to companies to make the switch to biofuel technology.

Which of the following, if true, would cast the most doubt on the effectiveness of the plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging the production of corn-based fuel?

(A) Before any law is enacted to provide financial incentives to biofuel companies, it must pass with a majority vote in both houses of Congress.

(B) While ethanol currently makes up less than 4 percent of the motor fuel used nationally, the corn used in ethanol production constitutes 14 percent of the domestic crop.

(C) Corn-based ethanol production increases food prices and consumes large amount of waters.

(D) The fertilizer used in the cultivation of biofuel crops releases nitrous oxide, a potent, long-lived greenhouse gas into the atmosphere

(E) The scientific study of greenhouse gas emission was conducted by a university that received funding from prominent agricultural lobby groups who would benefit greatly from new legislation.

fameatop · Accepted Answer

2) According to recent study data, greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-based vehciles are a major contributor to global climate instability. One plan to reduce greenhouse gases within the United States is to encourage the production of corn-based ethanol fuels.
Such "biofuels" burn cleaner and therefore emit fewer harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. To encourage production, financial incentives could be given to companies to make the switch to biofuel technology.

Which of the following, if true, would cast the most doubt on the effectiveness of the plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging the production of corn-based fuel?
(A) Before any law is enacted to provide financial incentives to biofuel companies, it must pass with a majority vote in both houses of Congress. -  Changes the focus & does not talk about how Greenhouse gas emmission will not be controlled. INCORRECT. 
(B) While ethanol currently makes up less than 4 percent of the motor fuel used nationally, the corn used in ethanol production constitutes 14 percent of the domestic crop.  - Out of Scope  
(C) Corn-based ethanol production increases food prices and consumes large amount of waters.  - Shell game option because it introduces Negative side of something irrelevant but not the negative side of new proposal. INCORRECT 
(D) The fertilizer used in the cultivation of biofuel crops releases nitrous oxide, a potent, long-lived greenhouse gas into the atmosphere 
 - The whole purpose of new proposal is to reduce Greenhouses gas emmission. If we implement this new proposal we will reduce emission from one source but will increase emmision at the other end. Thus this option WEAKENS the new proposal. CORRECT. 
(E) The scientific study of greenhouse gas emission was conducted by a university that received funding from prominent agricultural lobby groups who would benefit greatly from new legislation. - very interesting option. Although the research was funded by agricultural lobbyists & they would receive great benefit, nowhere it's mentioned that RESULTS of the research were INACCURATE. Thus INCORRECT

Narenn · Answer

Question 2

Answer should be D

Conclusion -  Such "biofuels" burn cleaner and therefore emit fewer harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.

we need to establish that the biofuels, while burning, may appreantly seem to reduce emmision of greenhouse gases, their manufacturing process actually emits the same amount of gases/harmful chemicals in the atmosphere.

So we would look for the answer choice that have reasoning similar to this.

A) Irrelevant

B) Incorrect :- This choice points to the other side effects of Biofuel manufacturing, but we are only concerned about the environmental side effects

C) Incorrect :- Similar reasoning as choice B

D) Correct :- Fertilizers used for Biofuel crops actually release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere (Though this is correct, am not fully agree with it. We would need more data on the amount of reduction in emission of greenhouse gases achieved by Biofuels and amount of increase in harmful chemicals by the cultivation of biofuel crops before confirming this choice. However this choice is best among others)

E) Incorrect :-   (Shell Game Answer)  Whether agricultural lobby groups have any monetary stakes in promoting the use of Biofuel is not an issue here. We are concerned about environmental aspects of Biofuels

Regards,

Narenn

doe007 · Answer

Explanation:

Points of the argument are:
1) Greenhouse gas, emitted from fossil fuel-based vehicles, is a major contributor to global climate instability.
2) Use of biofuel will reduce greenhouse gases.

Question is: what point can weaken the conclusion of the argument. In other way, the question is asking for a reason or fact to show that use of biofuel will not reduce greenhouse gases

A) This legal requirement may be true. However, this is out of scope here. Wrong.
B) No information provided here on how much greenhouse gases can be produced from biofuel. Wrong.
C) This statement may be true. However, this is not of concern here. Wrong.
D) Correct. Here the statement says that the production of biofuel crops involves emission of greenhouse gas, and thus use of biofuel will not reduce greenhouse gases.
E) No information provided here on how much greenhouse gases can be produced from biofuel. Wrong.

Correct Answer is D.

aditya8062 · Answer

it has to be D  :   The fertilizer used in the cultivation of biofuel crops releases nitrous oxide, a potent, long-lived greenhouse gas into the atmosphere .

nikhiljd · Answer

E... questions the validity of the research..

Posted from my mobile device

aditya8062 · Answer

in CR question we should never question the premise . if some study has shown some result that we need to accept that result as it is .

dheeraj24 · Answer

Good Question. The answer is D.
The plan was to reduce the green house gases by using corn based ethanol fuels.
The correct argument has to show that even after using corn based ethanol fuel , the plan fails.
"The fertilizer used in the cultivation of biofuel crops releases nitrous oxide, a potent, long-lived greenhouse gas into the atmosphere."
Only option D does this. Hence correct.
Hope this helps

JarvisR · Answer

According to recent study data,  greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel based vehicles are a major contributor to global climate instability.  
One plan to reduce greenhouse gases within the United States is to encourage the production of corn-based ethanol fuels. 
Such  “biofuels” burn cleaner and therefore emit fewer harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.  
To encourage production,financial incentives could be given to companies to make the switch to biofuel technology.
  Assumption : Corn fuel doesn't affect the environment indirectly. 
Which of the following, if true,  would cast the most doubt on the effectiveness of the plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging the production  of corn-based fuels?

(A) Before any law is enacted to provide financial incentives to biofuel companies, it must pass with a majority vote in both houses of Congress.
(B) While ethanol currently makes up less than 4 percent of the motor fuel used nationally, the corn used in ethanol production constitutes 14 percent of the domestic crop.
(C) Corn-based ethanol production increases food prices and consumes large amounts of water.
 (D) The fertilizer used in the cultivation of biofuel crops releases nitrous oxide, a potent, long-lived greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. 
>>Correct.
(E) The scientific study of greenhouse gas emissions was conducted by a university that received funding from prominent agricultural lobby groups who would benefit greatly from new legislation.
>>Even though they might be benefited, this doesn't put doubt on the validity of their research.To me its a trap.

pran21 · Answer

D and E as contenders. Final Answer Choice D.

Though what makes D a preferable choice is the specific use of words "  Potent  " and " Long-lived " . It suggests a great harm to the environment....

AmoyV · Answer

According to recent study data, greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel based vehicles are a major contributor to global climate instability. One plan to reduce greenhouse gases within the United States is to encourage the production of corn-based ethanol fuels. Such “biofuels” burn cleaner and therefore emit fewer harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. To encourage production,financial incentives could be given to companies to make the switch to biofuel technology.

Which of the following, if true, would cast the most doubt on the effectiveness of the plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging the production
of corn-based fuels?

(A) Before any law is enacted to provide financial incentives to biofuel companies, it must pass with a majority vote in both houses of Congress. We have no reason to believe based on the argument that we wont get vote. Also this option is Out of Scope 
(B) While ethanol currently makes up less than 4 percent of the motor fuel used nationally, the corn used in ethanol production constitutes 14 percent of the domestic crop. Out of scope. It would be within scope if this option discussed that the corn used cannot be produced more. 
(C) Corn-based ethanol production increases food prices and consumes large amounts of water. "increasing food prices" and "consuming large amount of water" are not identified as part of greenhouse houses gases in the argument. Out of Scope. 
(D) The fertilizer used in the cultivation of biofuel crops releases nitrous oxide, a potent, long-lived greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. Correct. This would mean that using biofuel and increasing the production of biofuel would increase greenhouse gases and defeat the purpose of using biofuels in the first place. 
(E) The scientific study of greenhouse gas emissions was conducted by a university that received funding from prominent agricultural lobby groups who would benefit greatly from new legislation. We cannot conclude based on this that the university's study was rigged. We need more proof.

Temurkhon · Answer

(E) The scientific study of greenhouse gas emissions was conducted by a university that received funding from prominent agricultural lobby groups who would benefit greatly from new legislation (it makes doubt that "fossil fuel based vehicles are a major contributor to global climate instability" but it is indifferent to claim that it is necessary to produce biofuel).

D

D

LUC999 · Answer

D and E are contenders..But the final answer is D

kinghyts · Answer

I will go with D). 
None of the other answers doesnot seem to question the effectiveness of the plan.

VerbalBot · Answer

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According to recent study data, greenhouse gas emissions from fossil

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According to recent study data, greenhouse gas emissions from fossil

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