A
Critics of certain pollution-control regulations have claimed that <b> the money spent over the last decade in order to reduce emissions of carbon monoxide and of volatile organic compounds has been wasted </b>. The evidence they offer in support of this claim might appear compelling: despite the money spent, annual emissions of these pollutants have been increasing steadily. This evidence is far from adequate, however, since <b> over the last decade a substantial number of new industrial facilities that emit these pollutants have been built </b>. In the reasoning given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
A: The first is a position that the reasoning contends is inadequately supported by the evidence; the second is evidence used to support the reasoning's contention.
B: The first identifies a claim that the reasoning seeks to show is false; the second is evidence that has been cited by others in support of that claim.
C: The first is a position that the reasoning contends is inadequately supported by the evidence; the second is a position for which the reasoning seeks to provide support.
D: The first is a position that the reasoning contends is inadequately supported by the evidence; the second is evidence that has been used to support that position.