3. Installing scrubbers in smokestacks and switching to

cleaner-burning fuel are the two methods available to Northern

Power for reducing harmful emissions from its plants. Scrubbers

will reduce harmful emissions more than cleaner-burning fuels will.

Therefore, by installing scrubbers, Northern Power will be doing

the most that can be done to reduce harmful emissions from its

plants.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument

depends?

(A) Switching to cleaner-burning fuel will not be more expensive

than installing scrubbers.

(B) Northern Power can choose from among various kinds of

scrubbers, some of which are more effective than others.

(C) Northern Power is not necessarily committed to reducing harmful

emissions from its plants.

(D) Harmful emissions from Northern Power’s plants cannot be

reduced more by using both methods together than by the

installation of scrubbers alone.（D）

(E) Aside from harmful emissions from the smokestacks of its

plants, the activities of Northern Power do not cause significant

air pollution.

为什么是D呢？这个为什么是假设？我选的是E！求指点！

我也觉得是E。。。取非一下，NP还产生别的污染，不是就可以消弱文中：by installing scrubbers, Northern Power will be doing the most that can be done to reduce harmful emissions from its plants.吗？

想不通。。。

C说一定要一起用，文中说SCRUBBER最有效，那都用它不是最好么？为什么假设一定要一起用呢？

求教～

题目说by installing scrubbers, Northern Power will be doing the most that can be done to reduce harmful emissions from its plants.也就是说northern power装了scrubbers后，就是她能做得最多了的。也就是假设即使两种方法都用，也不会再多了。这就是D说的。D是正确的。