Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following information and answer the question that follows.

Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, a pesticide being used in Andhra Pradesh since last ten years to destroy weeds without harming the rice crop, should be banned immediately lest they cause more harm to humans. Tests at Andhra Agricultural University have shown that the end product of acid used in to destroy weeds have been found in large quantities in the rice crop sold by hundred of thousands of Andhra farmers who used the pesticide over the past years.

Which of the following most conclusively strengthens the argument above?

  1. Scientists have observed an unusually high rate of blood cancer among consumers of Andhra rice over the past five years.

  2. Traces of dichlorophenoxyacetic acid have been found in the ground water of area where the given pesticide is used.

  3. Weeds have been found increasingly resistant to the pesticide.

  4. Industrial scientists, who contributed to the research and development of dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, conducted extensive tests to ascertain the safety of the chemical.

  5. None of these
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A Correct answer
Explanation

Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid should be banned from use in controlling weeds on rice farms in Andhra Pradesh because they pose a threat to humans. To make the connection between dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and human health problems, there must be a connection between rice and humans who suffer health problems. If, for instance, (1) consumers of Andhra rice have recently been found to have a high rate of blood cancer, it is likely that the traces of pesticide in the rice crop was also ingested by humans and caused the cancer.

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