To prevent a newly built dam on the Chiff River from blocking the route of fish migrating to breeding grounds upstream, the dam includes a fish pass, a mechanism designed to allow fish through the dam. Before the construction of the dam and fish pass, several thousand fish a day swam upriver during spawning season. But in the first season after the project's completion, only 300 per day made the journey. Clearly, the fish pass is defective.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
83. To prevent a newly built dam on the Chiff River from blocking the route of fish
migrating to breeding grounds upstream, the dam includes a fish pass, a
mechanism designed to allow fish through the dam. Before the construction of the
dam and fish pass, several thousand fish a day swam upriver during spawning
season. But in the first season after the project’s completion, only 300 per day
made the journey. Clearly, the fish pass is defective.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
(A) Fish that have migrated to the upstream breeding grounds do not return
down the Chiff River again.
(B) On other rivers in the region, the construction of dams with fish passes
has led to only small decreases in the number of fish migrating upstream.
(C) The construction of the dam stirred up potentially toxic river sediments
that were carried downstream.
(D) Populations of migratory fish in the Chiff River have been declining
slightly over the last 20 years.
(E) During spawning season, the dam releases sufficient water for migratory
fish below the dam to swim upstream.
我选的是D,但是看了答案觉得不对,A slight and gradual ongoing decline in migratory fish populations would not explain an abrupt and extreme decline right after the dam was built.可是正确答案C还是没法信服。求NN解答!