Read the following information carefully and answer the question that follows. You must assume everything in the statement to be true and decide which of the conclusion/s logically follow/s.

• The city of Green Valley has experienced a surge in cases of a rare respiratory illness in the past month. Public health officials identified a recently opened chemical factory as the source of the outbreak, tracing the illness to airborne toxins emitted from the factory. The factory manager initially denied responsibility and refused to shut down operations. However, following protests and mounting pressure from local residents and government officials, the factory has finally agreed to halt production temporarily.

Which of the following can be concluded from the given information?

A. The chemical factory will permanently shut down operations.

B. The respiratory illness is highly contagious and can spread quickly through the air.

C. Public health officials have effectively managed the outbreak and prevented further spread.

D. Green Valley residents should avoid all outdoor activities to minimize exposure to the toxins.

The city of Green Valley has experienced a surge in cases of a rare respiratory illness in the past month. Public health officials identified a recently opened chemical factory as the source of the outbreak, tracing the illness to airborne toxins emitted from the factory. The factory manager initially denied responsibility and refused to shut down operations. However, following protests and mounting pressure from local residents and government officials, the factory has finally agreed to halt production temporarily.

A. The chemical factory will permanently shut down operations. (Does not follow,  ​The factory has only agreed to halt production temporarily, not permanently. Therefore, we cannot conclude that it will shut down permanently).​

B. The respiratory illness is highly contagious and can spread quickly through the air. (Follow, ​the illness is linked to airborne toxins, it does not imply that the illness is contagious in the usual sense, such as through person-to-person contact. It only suggests that exposure to toxic air from the factory has led to the outbreak).​

C. Public health officials have effectively managed the outbreak and prevented further spread (Does not follow, ​The information does not mention whether public health officials have managed or contained the outbreak yet. It only states that they traced the illness to the factory and the factory agreed to halt production temporarily).

D. Green Valley residents should avoid all outdoor activities to minimize exposure to the toxins (Follow, ​The statement mentions airborne toxins being the source of the illness, but it does not explicitly recommend any actions for residents. However, based on the nature of airborne toxins, avoiding exposure would be a logical recommendation, though it's not directly stated).

So, Only B and D follow.

Thus, the correct option is: (a)