Critical Reasoning

Source: Knewton

The removal of hillsides and mountaintops, necessary for mining companies to extract coal quickly from deeply-buried seams, destroys forests. Experts therefore recommend that coal be extracted using time-consuming deep bore techniques.

Because public opinion opposes coal mining, some states now allow mining companies to extract coal from any particular site for only a short period of time.

The statements above, if true, best support which of the following conclusions?

A: Mining companies will continue to be able to extract coal using deep bore techniques but not by removing hillsides or mountaintops.
B: The only way to preserve forests on hillsides and mountaintops is to stop coal mining.
C: New mining techniques will be developed to make it possible to extract coal quickly without removing hillsides or mountaintops.
D: Public opinion regarding coal mining works against forest preservation efforts.
E: Allowing mining companies to extract coal from any particular site for only a short period of time is unlikely to be a successful response to public opinion.

OA: D

I go with 'E'

IMO A

IMO A

confuse between A and E.
But A is looking better.

Same here..Confused between A and E.

What is the OA??

Hello Mate,

I just now posted OA above. OA is quite confusing. I am OK with OA but I did wrongly on first instance.

How can we eliminate others 4 choices.

I am confused between D and E ..

IMO : E

The removal of hillsides and mountaintops, necessary for mining companies to extract coal quickly from deeply-buried seams, destroys forests. Experts therefore recommend that coal be extracted using time-consuming deep bore techniques.

Because public opinion opposes coal mining, some states now allow mining companies to extract coal from any particular site for only a short period of time.

Statements are :

Mining by removing hillsides and mountain tops -> Comparatively quick but destroys forest

Deep bore method -> Time consuming and saves forest

Public opinion -> No coal mining -> states allow mining for shorter period

Therefore, short period is only possible by removing hillsides and mountain tops -> public opinion is destroying forest

Hence, D logically follows

YellowSapphire wrote:Source: Knewton

The removal of hillsides and mountaintops, necessary for mining companies to extract coal quickly from deeply-buried seams, destroys forests. Experts therefore recommend that coal be extracted using time-consuming deep bore techniques.

Because public opinion opposes coal mining, some states now allow mining companies to extract coal from any particular site for only a short period of time.

The statements above, if true, best support which of the following conclusions?

A: Mining companies will continue to be able to extract coal using deep bore techniques but not by removing hillsides or mountaintops.
B: The only way to preserve forests on hillsides and mountaintops is to stop coal mining.
C: New mining techniques will be developed to make it possible to extract coal quickly without removing hillsides or mountaintops.
D: Public opinion regarding coal mining works against forest preservation efforts.
E: Allowing mining companies to extract coal from any particular site for only a short period of time is unlikely to be a successful response to public opinion.

OA: D

i just dont understand what D means....hmhmhm
i do undersstand that the public oppose extracting coal and wants to protect the forest however in D, it says that public opinion oppose the forest preservation
i dont understand... i am confused
i chose E

Very nice question. Props to Knewton.

How can we explain the stand of point E?

Thanks.

First let me start off by simplifying things:

1. To get coal quickly companies have to remove hills.

2. Removing hills destroys forests.

3. An alternative: (time-consuming) bore techniques will not require hills to be removed.

4. Public opinion doesn't like coal mining so will only allow companies to drill for short time.

That means companies can not use time-consuming bore techniques and will have to mine quickly. To get coal quickly they have to remove hills. Hmm, so it seems that public opinion is actually forcing companies to use a technique that is harmful to the forests.

(D), the Answer, captures this nicely.


(E) doesn't work for the following reason. Remember, public opinion has led to a compromise in some states, i.e. only a short time to mine. As a response it is def. successful, because companies can mine quickly. Mining companies win. Public opinion is assuaged. And the forests lose.

Hope that makes sense .

IMO is the argument read " public opinion opposes time consuming coal mining" then D makes more sense.. otherwise imo E is much better....