Ozone in the stratosphere blocks deadly ultraviolet rays

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Ozone in the stratosphere blocks deadly ultraviolet rays from the sun, but chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in aerosols and other products have thinned this protective layer. Evidence of this is the ozone hole that forms over the South Pole every Antarctic spring as temperatures drop below -78°C, the temperature at which ozone depletion occurs. Measurements of the ozone hole taken at various times this spring show that, compared with the same times the previous year, its area diminished by four million square kilometers. Nevertheless, scientists have not concluded that the ozone layer is recovering.

Which of the following would, if true, provide the strongest reason for the scientists' reaction to the measurements?

A. The ozone hole has steadily grown in size every year for the past decade except this year.
B. The length of time that the ozone hole persists fluctuates from year to year.
C. As a result of international treaties, CFCs have been completely banned for several years.
D. Weather patterns allowed unusual amounts of warm air to mix into the polar regions this year.
E. Human-made CFCs retain their ability to destroy ozone molecules for seventy-five to one hundred years.

OA D

Source: Official Guide
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by deloitte247 » Sat Oct 26, 2019 5:45 pm
Premise: Ozone in the stratosphere blocks deadly ultraviolet rays from the sun, but chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in aerosols and other products have thinned this protective layer.
Conclusion: The measurements of the ozone hole taken at various times, compared with the same time the previous year, its area diminished by four million square kilometers.

Option A - Incorrect
This opposes the argument because it is clear that the measurement of the ozone hole shows that its area diminished by four million square kilometers.

Option B - Incorrect
We only know about the present and previous year according to the passage. Therefore, we do not know if the length of time that the ozone hole persists fluctuates from year to year.

Option C - Incorrect
This claim is wrong because, in reference to the passage, no international treaty interdicted chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Option D - Correct
This claim is valid because the zone hole that forms over the south pole every antarctic spring dropped below 78 degrees - the temperature at which ozone depletion occurs, and its area dimished by four million square kilometers. As a result of this, scientists have not been able to draw a conclusion that the ozone layer is recovering.

Option E - Incorrect
Neither was any information given about human-made CFCs nor their ability to destroy ozone molecules.