GWD 8-3

In the late 1980's, the population of sea otters in the North Pacific Ocean began to decline. Of the two plausible explanations for the decline---increased predation by killer whales or disease---disease is the more likely. After all, a concurrent sharp decline in the populations of seals and sea lions was almost certainly caused by a pollution-related disease, which could have spread to sea otters, whereas the population of killer whales did not change noticeably.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the reasoning?
A. Killer whales in the North Pacific usually prey on seals and sea lions but will, when this food source is scarce, seek out other prey.
B. There is no indication that substantial numbers of sea otters migrated to other locations from the North Pacific in the 1980's
C. Along the Pacific coast of North America in the 1980's, sea otters were absent from many locations where they had been relatively common in former times.
D. Following the decline in the population of the sea otters, there was an increase in the population of sea urchins, which are sea otters' main food source.
E. The North Pacific populations of seal and sea lions cover a wider geographic area than does the population sea otter.

SEA OTTER的减少有两个原因，一是被KILLER WHATLE吃掉，二是疾病---更被人们认同。（因为） SEALS AND SEA LIONS 的骤减就很可能是污染有关的疾病造成的，而此疾病可能已扩散到SEAL OTTER。而KILLER WHALES的数量并没有明显改变。

感觉题意不太清楚，KILLERWHALES的数量与REASOING没有关联啊？请各位NN赐教！多谢！

答案是A吗?

Yeah, the answer is A, but how come?tks!

原文说O的减少因为disease, A说O的减少有可能是杀鱼吃的(暗是不一定是disease)

大概是这意思. LZ再仔细看看.

ok,I see. Thank you,wycg!