Arbor Day was founded in 1872 -Weaken

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Arbor Day was founded in 1872 to promote the planting and growth of trees in the US. Proponents of Arbor Day argue that the large-scale planting of trees would be beneficial for the environment. Trees reduce erosion, provide homes for animals, and draw harmful polluants out of the atmosphere. As a result, they advocate that land should be set aside to plant millions of acres of trees.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the conclusion drawn by the Arbor Day proponents above?

A) 2.6 million acres of trees are planted annually in the US, without any additional impetis needed

B) Studies have shown that large tree plantations can reduce stream flow, use large amounts of water, and consume essential nutrients in poor soils, leaving the soils salty and acidic

C) When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, it destroyed 320 million trees, resulting in over 424 million tons of Carbon dioxide being relesed into the atomosphere

D) Deforestation has been linked to decrased evapotranpiration, which lessens atomspheric moisture and decreases precipitation downwind from the deforested area

E) The US has the 7th highest rate of primary forest loss of any country in the world.

[spoiler]Veritas; OA-B; Pls explain reasoning for B & C.[/spoiler]
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by killer1387 » Sun Mar 04, 2012 8:05 am
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the conclusion drawn by the Arbor Day proponents above?

A) 2.6 million acres of trees are planted annually in the US, without any additional impetis needed
--> we dont know if this figure is large or small so irrelevant

B) Studies have shown that large tree plantations can reduce stream flow, use large amounts of water, and consume essential nutrients in poor soils, leaving the soils salty and acidic
--> Points out some demerits of tree plantation hence flows against the conclusion drawn.

C) When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, it destroyed 320 million trees, resulting in over 424 million tons of Carbon dioxide being relesed into the atomosphere
--> okay if the trees are destroyed then it would be gud to go with the conclusion hence this strengthens.

D) Deforestation has been linked to decrased evapotranpiration, which lessens atomspheric moisture and decreases precipitation downwind from the deforested area
--> somehow supports the conclusion, anyway argument doesnt deals with deforestation.

E) The US has the 7th highest rate of primary forest loss of any country in the world.
--> It supports

B is the best one.

HTH

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by GmatKiss » Mon Mar 05, 2012 3:02 am
What about A ?

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by killer1387 » Mon Mar 05, 2012 3:52 am
GmatKiss wrote:What about A ?
A doesnt affects the conclusion its just depends on our perception that the figure mentioned is high or low. So its just irrelevant.