Neighboring landholders: Air pollution from the giant aluminum refinery that has been built next to our land is killing our plants.
Company spokesperson: The refinery is not to blame, since our study shows that the damage is due to insects and fungi.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the conclusion drawn by the company spokesperson?

Correct answer marked below

The study did not measure the quantity of pollutants emitted into the surrounding air by the aluminum refinery.

The neighboring landholders have made no change in the way they take care of their plants.

Air pollution from the refinery has changed the chemical balance in the plants’ environment, allowing the harmful insects and fungi to thrive.

Correct

Pollutants that are invisible and odorless are emitted into the surrounding air by the refinery.

The various species of insects and fungi mentioned in the study have been occasionally found in the locality during the past hundred years.

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Explanation

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Comments

GovindJun 8

thanks, this one was quick for me. C just makes sense once you see the insects are a symptom not the cause.

AmritJun 21

same, the wording basically gives it away.

LilianApr 28

Wait why is D wrong? If pollutants are invisible and odorless, doesn't that weaken the refinery's claim too?

MohammadMay 3

D just says the pollution exists, but the spokesperson already admits the refinery emits stuff. It doesn't connect it to the plant damage.

SalehMay 2

yeah D is a trap, invisible doesn't mean harmful to plants.

SonaliMay 9

The spokesperson is basically saying bugs did it, so C is the perfect answer because it shows the pollution caused the bugs. Classic weaken.

NityasriJul 24

kinda tricky wording on C but got there. the refinery creating a good environment for the insects is a nice twist lol

What this question tests

Whether you can identify the option that most undermines an argument's conclusion.

Choosing an irrelevant objection or one that attacks the premise rather than the reasoning.