Critical Reasoning

mgmt_gmat wrote:Each year red-winged blackbirds stop in a certain region of Midland Province on their
spring and fall migrations. In the fall, they eat a significant portion of the province's
sunflower crop. This year Midland farmers sought permits to set out small amounts of
poisoned rice during the blackbirds' spring stop in order to reduce the fall blackbird
population. Some residents voiced concern that the rice could threaten certain species of
rare migratory birds. Nevertheless, the wildlife agency approved the permits.

Which of the following, if true, most helps to justify the wildlife agency's approval of the permits, given the concerns voiced by some residents?

A. In the region where the red-winged blackbirds stop, they are the first birds to be present in the spring.
Correct : If they are the first birds to be present in the spring, poisoned rice will be eaten by them. Hence the rice will not pose any danger to rare migratory birds.

B. The poison that farmers want to use does not kill birds but rather makes them incapable of producing viable eggs.
Incorrect : Such rice would ultimately threaten the population of rare migratory birds who eat it.

C. Since rice is not raised in Midland Province, few species of birds native to the province normally eat rice.
Incorrect : Issue is not about NATIVE BIRDS, it is about MIGRATORY BIRDS.

D. Without the permit, any farmers shown to have set out poison for the blackbirds would be heavily fined.
Incorrect : This does not justify the wildlife's approval of the permits in any way.

E. The poison that farmers got approval to use has no taste or smell that would make it detectable by birds.
Incorrect : Taste n Smell of the poison is irrelevant here.