Critical Reasoning

Data from satellite photographs of the tropical rain forest in Melonia show that last year the deforestation rate of this environmentally sensitive zone was significantly lower than in previous years. The Melonian government, which spent millions of dollars last year to enforce laws against burning and cutting of the forest, is claiming that the satellite data indicate that its increased efforts to halt the destruction are proving effective.

Which one of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the government's claim?

(A) Landowner opposition to the government's anti-deforestation efforts grew more violent last year in response to the increased enforcement.

(B) Rainfall during the usually dry 6-month annual burning season was abnormally heavy last year.

(C) Government agents had to issue fines totaling over $9 million to 3,500 violators of burning-and-cutting regulations.

(D) The inaccessibility of much of the rain forest has made it impossible to confirm the satellite data by direct observation from the field.

(E) Much of the money that was designated last year for forest preservation has been spent on research and not on enforcement.

Let's follow the analysis one option at a time to get the best amongst the options.

Option A - Incorrect
Since the numbers are in support of the government's effort and are proving "effective" then no amount of pressure from the populace could dissuade the government from carrying out his plans even amidst stiff opposition.

Option B - Incorrect
Since freelers in the corridors of power have cited the government anti-Defforestation policy as being effective it is then contradictory to think the decrease in defforestation is due to normal rainfall in a bis to achieving their aim if not for government's actions.

Option D - correct
This could be verifiably true because of the abnormality in the rainfall experienced during this period could disturb actionable intelligence from the government's agent.

Option E - Incorrect
Not entirely true because the article also talked on enforcement of law by government officials in a bid to preserving the forest against defforestation