Read Deepak's rebuttal to the counterclaim in his essay. Critics are correct in saying that the weather moves in cycles. However, that doesn't mean that the current drought isn't real. By the end of October 2012, sixty percent of the US was experiencing a drought. Granted, that was a four percent decrease from the drought totals in September. Which sentence in the rebuttal provides evidence that defends against the counterclaim?

A: Critics are correct in saying that the weather moves in cycles.

B: However, that doesn't mean that the current drought isn't real.

C: By the end of October 2012, sixty percent of the US was experiencing a drought.

D. Granted, that was a four percent decrease from the drought totals in September.

The correct answer to which sentence provides evidence that the rebuttal defends against the counterclaim is B: However, that doesn't mean that the current drought isn't real.

The evidence provided in the sentence starts with the word "However", which is a conjunction that expresses contrast. When the speaker says that the critic's comment about the weather "doesn't mean" that the drought is something fake, that it isn't really happening at alarming rates, he conveys that the drought has further reasons to be happening, apart from the weather's cycle. There are other causes that would enable the drought's reality. The speaker implies that just by the fact that the weather has its cycle it isn't possible to understand the reality behind the drought. Thus, the correct answer to which sentence provides evidence that the rebuttal defends against the counterclaim is B. However, that doesn't mean that the current drought isn't real.

The correct answer couldn't be A: Critics are correct in saying that the weather moves in cycles because, in this sentence, the speaker is first agreeing with the critics, and still not showing his counterargument. Therefore, the correct answer couldn't be A: Critics are correct in saying that the weather moves in cycles.

The correct answer couldn't be C: By the end of October 2012, sixty percent of the US was experiencing a drought because in this sentence the speaker is only showing data. This data could be interpreted however one chose to. So, the correct answer to which sentence provides evidence that the rebuttal defends against the counterclaim couldn't be C: By the end of October 2012, sixty percent of the US was experiencing a drought.

The correct answer couldn't be D. Granted, that was a four percent decrease from the drought totals in September for the same reason explained previously. This sentence only expresses data, information that could be used however necessary during the speaker's speech. So, the correct answer couldn't be D. Granted, that was a four percent decrease from the drought totals in September.

The right answer is c. By the end of October 2012, sixty percent of the US was experiencing a drought

Just took an test and it was right