London Air-Pollution

[computer-bot]

In the years since the city of London imposed strict air-pollution regulations on local industry, the number of bird species seen in and around London has increased dramatically. Similar air-pollution rules should be imposed in other major cities.
Each of the following is an assumption made in the argument above EXCEPT:
(A) In most major cities, air-pollution problems are caused almost entirely by local industry.
(B) Air-pollution regulations on industry have a significant impact on the quality of the air.
(C) The air-pollution problems of other major cities are basically similar to those once suffered by London.
(D) An increase in the number of bird species in and around a city is desirable.（A）
(E) The increased sightings of bird species in and around London reflect an actual increase in the number of species in the area.



The OA is

SPOILER: A

But I think the correct answer is E.
CB

[jonnysunn]

IMO correcr answer is A:

If E were not a valid assumption the conslusion won´t be ok...

but not sure anyway.

[Udy]

IMO D. A is incorrect. It is definitely an assumption.
E is second best. I wont opt for E because it is too out of scope...

[x97agarwal]

I think it is D.
A is an assumption since the number of species seen went up only after the regulations on local industry were imposed.

All the rest are assumed. Hence it has to be D by POE.

[check.stone]

Argument takes increased bird sighting as the primary evidence of improved air quality. Nothing else is mentioned on how this improvement was measured. In fact, author doesn't say the air quality improved at all; it's implied that increased bird sightings equal an improvement in air quality. So D most definitely is an assumption in the argument. A is out as an assumption (and therefore the answer)because local industry is assumed to be a heavy contributor to local air pollution in the argument but not the only source ("entirely").

[x97agarwal]

Thanks check.stone for your explanation on why D is out.

[harshsharda]

I am not convinced friends.. Not at all :-( .. Check.stone, your explanation is helpful but I haven't seen any other question wherein scrutanization of the sentence to this extent was required.

[kodeprasad]

the word " entirely " makes the A as correct answer..

[rampuria]

A is a contender but IMO its C. Is it necessary that the probelms associated with air pollution be the same in most cities? The general effects of air pollution other than increased bird sightings are beyond the scope of the argument.