IMO it's A.

The Conclusion is the the amphibian populations are declining because of the depleting ozone layer - so any answer which helps to support this should be eliminated.

A) - knowing that UV=B is the only type that affects genes does not relate it to amphibians in any real way and it also doesn't directly connect the increase in UV-B to the decrease in ozone. this is the correct answer.

B) Knowing that populations are declining faster than those with protection helps to strengthen the fact that it is the UV-B which is causing the decline.

c) if ozone is depleting where the amphibians are it shows a correlation which helps strenthen the causal argument.

d) This eliminates another possible cause - if their habitat were declining that could be the reason for the drop but because we know it isn't then that helps to show that it is because of the ozone.

e) the 50 years matches the time line of the ozone depletion so another correlation.

Thanks becky

I could not understood that why A is not supporting. Can you please elaborate it?

A says
Of the various types of radiation blocked by the atmospheric ozone, UV-B is the only type that can damage genes.


What is problem with this? I can see word "only" which is not mentioned in stimulus.

This information simply does not relate to the reason why the amphibian population is declining. One thing to check is to negate the statement, if the negated statement doesn't affect the argument then the statement is not relevant. so here negating the statement would give you a statement that UV-B rays are not the only ones that cause cancer - this fact would not affect the conclusion becuase it is only about UV-B rays - therefore this statement does not strenghten the argument.

If I change option A slightly

Of the various types of radiation blocked by atmospheric ozone, UV-B is the only type that can damage amphibian population.

What about this statement? Will it strengthen now? If not, can you please modify it for me?

Akhilesh, I am not able to view the qn now. The image is not clear. Could you post it as a message instead?

Amphibian populations are declining in numbers
worldwide. Not coincidentally, the earth's ozone
layer has been continuously depleted throughout the
last 50 years. Atmospheric ozone blocks UV-B, a
type of ultraviolet radiation that is continuously
produced by the sun, and which can damage genes.
Because amphibians lack hair, hide, or feathers to
shield them, they are particularly vulnerable to UV-B
radiation. In addition, their gelatinous eggs lack the
protection of leathery or hard shells. Thus, the
primary cause of the declining amphibian population
is the depletion of the ozone layer.


Each of the following, if true, would strengthen the argument EXCEPT:
(A) Of the various types of radiation blocked by atmospheric ozone, UV-B is the only type that can damage genes.
(B) Amphibian populations are declining far more rapidly than are the populations of nonamphibian species whose tissues and eggs have more natural protection from UV-B.
(C) Atmospheric ozone has been significantly depleted above all the areas of the world in which amphibian populations are declining.
(D) The natural habitat of amphibians has not become smaller over the past century.
(E) Amphibian populations have declined continuously for the last 50 years.

sumanr84 - where did you get this Q in text?
Do you have any pdf or did you type it?

akhp77 wrote:sumanr84 - where did you get this Q in text?
Do you have any pdf or did you type it?

@prasad

search scribd.com U will pdf doc!!

it may help u

https://www.beatthegmat.com/amphibians-t ... tml#247168