The intake pipes of nuclear plants and water plants along Great lakes are clogged by a certain variety of mussels that proved to be causing nuisance to the working systems. But it is found that the bags of these calms when suspended in the effluent streams of chemical plants, not only improves quality of water significantly but also remove some hazardous wastes from effluents just by feeding voraciously on the algae that they filter from water that passes by it. Which one of the inferences given below, if true, is most strongly supported on the basis of information given in the above paragraph?
Analyzing the Inference about Mussels and Effluents
The paragraph describes a specific type of mussel found in the Great Lakes area. These mussels have two contrasting effects:
- They are a nuisance because they clog the intake pipes of nuclear and water plants.
- They are beneficial because, when placed in chemical plant effluent streams, they significantly improve water quality and remove hazardous wastes by filtering water and feeding on algae.
The question asks which inference is most strongly supported by this information.
Evaluating Each Option
Let's look at each option and see if the provided information supports it:
If these mussels spread to areas of the river and displace native calms that support cultured pearl industry for decades, that industry will collapse.
The paragraph mentions the mussels are a nuisance and thrive in the area, implying they might be invasive. However, it says nothing about native calms, displacement, the cultured pearl industry, or its potential collapse. This inference is not supported by the given text.
If the mussels failed to consume the quantity of algae available to them, then the intake pipes of the nuclear plants and water plants will get clogged by it.
The paragraph states that the mussels *themselves* clog the intake pipes. It does not say that a *failure to consume algae* causes the clogging. In fact, their presence *in* the pipes is the cause of clogging. This inference contradicts the information given.
If the wastes from the effluents are not transformed into non-hazardous chemicals by these mussels themselves will become hazardous pollutants.
The paragraph states that the mussels "remove some hazardous wastes from effluents" by filtering water and feeding on algae. This indicates that the mussels are actively cleaning the water by processing or removing these wastes. If the mussels were not present to perform this cleaning function, those hazardous wastes would remain in the effluent. Therefore, it is strongly supported that if the mussels do not remove or process these wastes, the wastes themselves (or the environment where they accumulate) would remain or become hazardous pollutants. The act of the mussels filtering and consuming implies they are preventing these wastes from being freely present and hazardous in the water.
These mussels are brought in this area through freighters and are thriving here since their population is not controlled naturally in the ecosystem.
The paragraph implies the mussels are thriving and causing problems, which is typical of an invasive species. However, it provides no information about *how* they were brought to the area (like through freighters) or specifically *why* their population is not controlled naturally. While this might be true in reality for such species, the paragraph itself does not state this. This inference is not strongly supported by the given text.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis of each option against the information provided in the paragraph, the third option is the most strongly supported inference. The paragraph explicitly states the mussels remove hazardous wastes, and the logical consequence of this cleaning function not happening is that the wastes remain hazardous.
Important Questions from Verbal Ability
What will fit in the blank taken from the passage. "Robert’s model made connections _______ the idea of an emotion circle and a color wheel."
Choose the synonym of the word 'anticipation'.
Choose the antonym of the word 'happiness'.
Which of the following is true according to the given passage:
I. The sensation of boredom is described as feeling weary because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one's current activity or environment.
II. The freedom of self-concept is the window for boredom to arise.
III. The slow process of enlarging a hole by repetitive movements is called happiness.
What did Robert Plutchik created?
