The West Indian manatee, a distant relative of the elephant,

[BTGmoderatorDC]

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?

(A) Last year, several manatees were mysteriously killed by an unidentified toxin.

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

(C) Most tourists are unaware of the ongoing efforts to save the manatee.

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

(E) Although dozens of manatee deaths are documented each year, many more deaths go unreported.

OA B

Source: Manhattan Prep

[deloitte247]

Option A - INCORRECT.
This option may be true but was not indicated that Last year several manatees were mysteriously killed by an unidentified toxin.

Option B - CORRECT.
This option most support the argument herein. Manatees are no natural predators or enemies, all manatees swim at depths and that makes them vulnerable to the blades of motorboat engines and now both manatees and the environment they live in are considered as endangered.

Option C - INCORRECT.
This option maybe true and also would have lead to the danger caused by humans. Most tourists are unaware of the ongoing efforts to save the manatee and maybe unaware of the way of life of the manatees too, also that the manatees swim close to the earth surface that is why they are most time killed by their boat.

Option D - INCORRECT.
This option is true and also one of the reasons why conservation efforts,criminal penalties for harming these creatures, and an overabundance of SAVE THE MANATEE! bumper stickers are been popularize to save manatees from the hands of humans who are drastically reducing their existence with their boats and other harmful pollution that are not suitable for the inhabitants of manatees.

Option E - INCORRECT.
Although dozens of manatee deaths are documented each year, many more deaths go unreported that is why the conservation efforts are trying to create awareness to stop more death of the manatees caused by humans.