Early pencil leads were made of solid graphite minted in

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Early pencil leads were made of solid graphite minted in Cumberland, in Britain. Modern methods of manufacturing pencil leads from powdered graphite are the result of research sponsored by the government of France in the 1790s, when France was at war with Britain and thus had no access to Cumberland graphite.

The information above most strongly supports which one of the following?

(A) The world's only deposit of graphite suitable for manufacture of pencils is in Cumberland, in Britain.

(B) In the 1790s, France's government did not know of any accessible source of solid graphite appropriate to meet France's need for pencils.

(C) One of the causes of war between France and Britain in the 1790s was the British government's attempt to limit the amount of Cumberland graphite being exported to France.

(D) Government-sponsored research frequently gives rise to inventions that are of great benefit to society.

(E) Even today, all pencil leads contain Cumberland graphite.
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by deloitte247 » Thu Jul 12, 2018 10:20 pm
Option A - INCORRECT.
This option was functional prior to 1970s before France government made a research on modern methods of manufacturing pencil leads from powdered granite.

Option B - INCORRECT.
The statement in this option is true, and that lead to the research carried out by France government in 1970 to meet up with their needs for pencil.

Option C - CORRECT.
This option has strongly support the information given. One of the causes of war between France and Britain in 1970s was the British government attempts to limit the amount of Cumberland granite being exported to France, this war lead to the research sponsored by the France government which now invented modern method of manufacturing pencils leads from powdered granite.

Option D - INCORRECT.
This option is also of valuable information but does not strongly support the information given. Government-sponsored research usually gives rise to new inventions that are of great benefits to the society, but most times the government are reluctant to sponsor research not until there is an uncontrollable situation that might lead to poor economy or cause the lives of the citizen at risk.

Option E - INCORRECT.
All pencil leads contain Cumberland granite but might not be directly iMported from Britain.