Critical Reasoning

The West Indian manatee, a distant relative of the elephant, returned to the sea some 50 million years ago. These thousand-pound herbivores inhabit the warm coastal waters where Americans like to play. Despite conservation efforts, criminal penalties for harming these creatures, and an overabundance of SAVE THE MANATEE! bumper stickers, none of these animals can be considered safe.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the argument above?

1. Last year, several manatees were mysteriously killed by an unidentified toxin.

2. All manatees swim at depths that make them vulnerable to the blades of motorboat engines.

3. Most tourists are unaware of the ongoing efforts to save the manatee.

4. The population of manatees in the wild has dwindled to fewer than 2,500 animals.

5. Although dozens of manatee deaths are documented each year, many more deaths go unreported.

is it B???

imo:B

B is the cause that people can rarely recognize

But why not A ?

(B) In the stimulus, "despite conservation efforts" means someone has initiated conservation efforts, which includes restriction on motorboat.

In (A) " Last year, several manatees were mysteriously killed by an unidentified toxin." - so the conservation efforts, criminal penalties for harming these creatures, and an overabundance of SAVE THE MANATEE! bumper stickers cannot curb the killing of manatee by toxins.

Please put some light on this reasoning

I'm going for C....

The question basically asks you to strengthen to Argument. The argument needs to link the fact that there are lots of man-made efforts and the fact that manitees are still unsafe (despite these efforts).

If people are still unaware (as in choice C), it explains why the manitees are still unsafe...

...Or have I misunderstood something?!?

IMO B

IMO B

It cannot be C coz it only talks about tourists

B o A

will go for A.. what is the OA?

A and B come close but i think B is right.

B is more stronger option than A

B should be the IMO,

Pls do not add any info from your own side. We have to draw the answer from the points which are stated/implied in the question. Toxins is no where mentioned.

I'm going with B, even though I'm sure there are plenty of organisms that swim at near-surface levels where motorboats go. Like Microbes of some sort... but whatever. B

The first sentence states that a manatee is quite rare, and uncommon to America. It goes on to state that it resides in the coastal waters where Americans like to play, possibly a nice location to visit? It sounds like the locals agree with by the local conservation groups arguments, and therefore, they should all be following the rules.

These animals can not feel safe, because... most tourists are unaware of the locals efforts.

In my opinion the major implied premise would be:

"Some tourists are a danger to the manatee"

My Answer: C.

3. Most tourists are unaware of the ongoing efforts to save the manatee.

My first post
Thanks everyone.

The West Indian manatee, a distant relative of the elephant, returned to the sea some 50 million years ago. These thousand-pound herbivores inhabit the warm coastal waters where Americans like to play. Despite conservation efforts, criminal penalties for harming these creatures, and an overabundance of SAVE THE MANATEE! bumper stickers, none of these animals can be considered safe.

I dont know WTF is manatee, but it does not affect the logic.

Conclusion: none of these animals can be considered safe.
Despite:
Primise 1: conservation efforts
Primise 2: criminal penalties for harming manatee
Primise 3: overabundance of SAVE THE MANATEE! bumper stickers

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the argument above?
Strengthen the conclusion question.

1. Last year, several manatees were mysteriously killed by an unidentified toxin.
Conclusion is about NONE OF THESE animals. This answer is about SEVERAL manatees. Very specific. OUT

2. All manatees swim at depths that make them vulnerable to the blades of motorboat engines.
Conclusion is about NONE OF THESE animals. This answer is about ALL manatees. CORRECT

3. Most tourists are unaware of the ongoing efforts to save the manatee.
BS. Primise 3 states the opposite. OUT

4. The population of manatees in the wild has dwindled to fewer than 2,500 animals.
So what? It it beyond the scope.

5. Although dozens of manatee deaths are documented each year, many more deaths go unreported.
So what? It it beyond the scope.

Answer B

I will go for A....Motorboats blades can come under conservation efforts...so not B

Count one more for A.