Multiple choice

From 1970 to 1995, millions of tonnes of coal ash from Ropar Thermal Plant was dumped into river Satluj. There is increasing apprehension that the ash will leak contaminants into ground water, and thereafter into drinking water supplied to the cities. This apprehension is unwarranted, as tests of the ground water and local water supply of regions near commercial manufacturers who practiced such dumping during the 1950s showed very little or no evidence of such contaminants.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the argument above?

  1. Commercial manufacturing plants in the 1950s dumped significantly fewer tonnes of coal ash into river Satluj than did plant from 1970 to 1995.

  2. In the 1950s, coal ash dumped by commercial manufacturing plants contained a greater concentration of harmful agents.

  3. In the 1950s, liquid waste pollution of Satluj constituted a greater hazard to local water supplied than did coal ash during the period from 1970 to 1995.

  4. In recent years, environmentalists have made serious attempts to curb coal ash pollution by commercial manufacturers.

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This answer indicates that the dumping done in the 1950s is not comparable to the dumping done later, so the result of the tests from the 1950s can't be used to predict the results of the increased dumping.

Keep practicing — related questions