Sunflowers growing in pots were placed, with their roots sub

[BTGmoderatorDC]

Sunflowers growing in pots were placed, with their roots submerged, in the pond contaminated with radioactive elements. The sunflowers kept growing; in the process, they absorbed radioactive elements. Within twelve days, 85 percent of the radioactive elements were removed from the water, which is no less than can be accomplished with the much more expensive conventional filtration techniques. Scientists therefore propose using sunflowers for decontamination wherever there are radioactively contaminated ponds.

Which of the following, if true, points to a limitation on the applicability of the proposed method of decontamination?

(A) Some plants other than sunflowers can also remove radioactive elements from water.

(B) The water in many ponds contaminated with radioactive elements is so cold that it would kill sunflowers whose roots were submerged in it.

(C) Sunflowers that grow with their roots submerged in water grow less well than sunflowers growing under optimal conditions on dry land.

(D) Only species of sunflowers with large leaves can have their roots submerged in water and still keep growing.

(E) In ponds in which the circulation of the water is artificially increased, sunflowers absorb radioactive elements far faster than they do in other ponds.

OA B

Source: GMAT Prep

[deloitte247]

We need to find what flaws the application of the proposed method of decontamination through sunflowers.

Premise: Sunflowers absorb radioactive elements

Option A - Incorrect
Well, this doesn't limit the use of sunflower for decontamination. Besides, the argument is not concern about other flowers aside from the sunflower.

Option B - Correct
This flaws the application of sunflowers to ponds with radioactive elements, because if the cold kills the sunflowers whose roots are submerged in it, then the sunflowers won't be able to absorb the radioactive element. This shows the limitation on the applicability of the use of sunflowers as a method of decontamination.

Option C - Incorrect
We are not concerned about the growth of the sunflowers in question.

Option D - Incorrect
The major concern of the argument is how sunflowers can be used for decontamination. Anything from this is outside the scope of this argument.

Option E - Incorrect
If true that the sunflowers can absorb radioactive element in these ponds, it enhances this method of decontamination rather than limit it.