Question

Look at the maps. The top map shows carbon dioxide released by wildfires. The bottom map shows how the carbon dioxide would have been reduced by prescribed fires.

The top map shows a lot of carbon dioxide. The bottom map shows much less carbon dioxide.

In an essay that talks about ways to reduce carbon dioxide, these maps would most likely be used as

evidence to support a claim that prescribed fires are beneficial.
a rebuttal against a counterclaim that prescribed fires provide benefits.

Answer 1

Evidence to support a claim that prescribed fires are beneficial.

Reason: the top map shows large CO2 emissions from uncontrolled wildfires, while the bottom map shows much lower emissions if prescribed fires had been used. That directly supports the claim that prescribed burns reduce carbon dioxide release.