Nitrogen dioxide is a pollutant emitted by automobiles. Catalytic converters, devices designed to reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions, have been required in all new cars in Donia since 1993, and as a result, nitrogen dioxide emissions have been significantly reduced throughout most of the country. Yet although the proportion of new cars in Donia's capital city has always been comparatively high, nitrogen dioxide emissions there have showed only an insignificant decline since 1993.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the insignificant decline in nitrogen dioxide emissions in Donia's capital city?
(A) More of the cars in Donia's capital city were made before 1993 than after 1993.
(B) The number of new cars sold per year in Donia has declined slightly since 1993.
(C) Pollutants other than nitrogen dioxide that are emitted by automobiles have also been significantly reduced in Donia since 1993.
(D) Many Donians who own cars made before 1993 have had catalytic converters installed in their cars.
(E) Most car trips in Donia's capital city are too short for the catalytic converter to reach its effective working temperature.
The argument gives us the following information
1)Nitrogen dioxide- pollutant emitted by automobiles
2) Catalytic converters- designed to reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions
3) Catalytic converters- have been required in all new cars in Donia since 1993
Result- nitrogen dioxide emissions reduced significantly throughout most of the country
YET
Although the proportion of new cars in Donia's capital city has always been comparatively high, nitrogen dioxide emissions there have not showed any significant decline since 1993.
In spite of having the Catalytic converters in all cars in Donia to reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions, nitrogen dioxide emissions have not showed any significant decline in Donia’s capital city. How? Why?
We need to find an option that would resolve the paradox presented in the argument
A) More of the cars in Donia's capital city were made before 1993 than after 1993- This cannot be considered correct as the argument says that the proportion of new cars in Donia's capital city has always been high- Eliminate A
B) The number of new cars sold per year in Donia has declined slightly since 1993- The conclusion talks about the nitrogen dioxide emissions in Donia’s capital - Eliminate option B
C) Pollutants other than nitrogen dioxide that are emitted by automobiles have also been significantly reduced in Donia since 1993- This talks about other pollutants that have been reduced significantly in Donia since 1933 and not nitrogen dioxide - Eliminate option C
(D) Many Donians who own cars made before 1993 have had catalytic converters installed in their cars.- So how does this resolve the paradox? It doesn’t- Eliminate option D
(E) Most car trips in Donia's capital city are too short for the catalytic converter to reach its effective working temperature.
This gives us the answer as to why despite having the Catalytic converters (to reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions) in all cars in Donia, nitrogen dioxide emissions have not showed any significant decline in Donia’s capital city. For the Catalytic converters to work, it has to reach its effective working temperature. But most car trips in Donia's capital city are too short for the catalytic converter to reach its effective working temperature. Hence nitrogen dioxide emissions there have not showed any significant decline since 1993. Option E is the correct answer.