In opposing the 1970 Clean Air Act, the United States automobile industry argued that meeting the act’s standards for automobile emissions was neither economically feasible nor environmentally necessary. However, the catalytic converter, invented in 1967, enable automakers to meet the 1970 standards efficiently. Currently, automakers are lobbying against the government’s attempt to pass legislation that would tighten restrictions on automobile emissions. The automakers contend that these new restrictions would be overly expensive and unnecessary to efforts to curb air pollution. Clearly, the automobile industry’s position should not be heeded.
Which one of the following, if true, lends the most support to the automakers’ current position
A．The more stringent the legislation restricting emissions becomes, the more difficult it becomes for automakers to provide the required technology economically.
B．Emissions-restriction technology can often be engineered so as to avoid reducing the efficiency with which an automobile uses fuel.
C．Not every new piece of legislation restricting emissions requires new automotive technology in order for automakers to comply with it.
D．The more automobiles there are on the road, the more stringent emission restrictions must be to prevent increased overall air pollution.
E．(E) Unless forced to do so by the government, automakers rarely make changes in automotive technology that is not related to profitability.