RajathGK
The Bad River Reservoir serves as the primary source of water for both home and industrial use to the local community. The water in the Bad River Reservoir comes from three primary sources: flow from the Bad River upstream, rainfall in the reservoir’s basin, and snowmelt at the end of winter. For the past three years, however, warm temperatures over the winter have limited the amount of snow falling in the region, cutting the amount of snowmelt flowing into the reservoir by half. Since the flow from the Bad River upstream and the yearly rainfall have remained relatively constant over the last decade, the amount of water in the Bad River Reservoir has fallen over the past three years.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?
A. In the previous decade, water in the Bad River Reservoir has come from flow from the Bad River upstream, rainfall, and snowmelt in roughly equal proportions.
B. Climatologists expect mild winters to continue in the region for the foreseeable future.
C. The population of the surrounding region has decreased in the past decade due to the unpredictable weather.
D. The number of factories in the region has not decreased significantly over the past three years.
E. The amount of water in the Bad River Reservoir has decreased proportionally to the decrease in the amount of water entering the reservoir.
Premise is saying that the source of water is: flow from the Bad River upstream, rainfall in the reservoir’s basin, and snowmelt at the end of winter.
Now, Warm temperatures over the winter have limited the amount of snow falling in the region, cutting the amount of snowmelt flowing into the reservoir by half.
Conclusion: The amount of water in the Bad River Reservoir has fallen over the past three years.
In order to assume this to be true, we have to make sure that
other source(flow from the Bad River upstream, rainfall in the reservoir’s basin) of water has zero impact on this.
The other part is consumption of water is also the same. .
Now let us start the option elimination :
A. In the previous decade, water in the Bad River Reservoir has come from flow from the Bad River upstream, rainfall, and snowmelt in roughly equal proportions. -
Even if it is not equal proportional, then also because of cutting in the amount of snowmelt has decrease the amount of waterB. Climatologists expect mild winters to continue in the region for the foreseeable future. - Totally out of scope answer.
C. The population of the surrounding region has decreased in the past decade due to the unpredictable weather. ->
Decreased means less consumption so amount should increase, but it is decreasing so not of answer. D. The number of factories in the region has not decreased significantly over the past three years. ->
Now this assumption is right, there is no decrease in water means there is same consumption even if the cutting in the amount of snowmelt, resulting in less waterE. The amount of water in the Bad River Reservoir has decreased proportionally to the decrease in the amount of water entering the reservoir. -> Yes it may be true, but there is no assumption involved, you can say this may be implied/infer but not an assumption.