Bold face

[joindk]

The meltdown in the Arctic is speeding up and as a result the North Pole could be ice-free within 5 years instead of 60 years time as earlier predicted. This is based on computer studies of satellite images that reveal that ice at North Pole melted at an unprecedented rate recently-the disappearance is said to have exceeded the record loss of more than a million square kilometers in 2007 as global warming tightened its grip. The crucial point is that ice is clearly not building up enough over winter to restore cover and that when you combine current estimates of ice thickness with the extent of the ice cap, you get a very clear indication that the Arctic is going to be ice free in five years.

In the above argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A. The first is an apprehension against some belief; the second is the conclusion based on that apprehension.
B. The first is a prediction based on some evidence; the second is that evidence.
C. The first is the conclusion; the second is the assumption on which the conclusion is based.
D. The first is an apprehension against some belief; the second is an explanation in support of that apprehension.
E. The first is a prediction; the second is the explanation on which the prediction is based.

I picked E because second is definitely the explanation. I am not sure if first is a prediction but i am sure it is the conclusion.

OA was not E. Can someone try this one and explain?
Thank

[donnabrenton]

I think D is the correct answer

[tim]

As per the forum rules, we need a verifiable source for the problem before we can deal with this question. If the question is not one of ours or one that is copyright-free, we will have to delete the question..