#3

[MeiqiL545]

Thanks in advance.

[Laura Damone]

In this question, we're asked to strengthen the author's position regarding the risks of deep well injection. Typically in a Strengthen question, we recommend researching the exact position you're tasked with strengthening in the passage before checking the answers. But since the risks are threefold and discussed in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4, it's not efficient to go back to the passage to research the position you're going to strengthen for this one. Instead, rely on memory and your passage map. You should have noted that there are 3 problems with deep well injection: leaky wells that pollute drinking water, human error that pollutes drinking water, and the fact that underground water travels unpredictably, so we don't really know where the waste will end up. With that in mind, you're ready to tackle the answers.

A) Weakener. If most suitable deep well injection sites aren't near our drinking water, the first two problems cited might be no big deal. Eliminate.

B) Sounds good up to the very end, but it goes awry when it talks about nonhuman organisms. The author's argument is about the problems with respect to us humans. Eliminate.

C) Has no impact. So what if many of the sites are far from the facilities that made the waste? If this one tempted you, you might have been creating a backstory (say, that transportation is also a biohazard). Eliminate.

D) Ok, if we already know the water is unpredictable (problem 3, paragraph 3), and it's even more unpredictable than we thought, I guess that could strengthen position 3. Defer.

E) Weakener. If the water is actually more predictable than we thought, that neutralizes problem 3 and weakens the argument. Eliminate.

So we're left with D. It's not a "jump out and grab you" right answer, but it's the best of the bunch. 4 wrongs DO make a right!

Hope this helps!