In the reasoning given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

Critics of certain pollution-control regulations have claimed that the money spent over the last decade in order to reduce emissions of carbon monoxide and of volatile organic compounds has been wasted. 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 over the last decade a substantial number of new industrial facilities that emit these pollutants have been built.

In the reasoning given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A 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.

B The first identifies a claim that the reasoning seeks to show is false; the second is a position for which the reasoning seeks to provide support.

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 used to support the reasoning’s contention.

E 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.

这个题的关键在于理解reasoning contends和reasoning’s contention

整个题目的内容就是一个reasoning，这个reasoning contends了一个contention，即Critics的观点证据不足（This evidence is far from adequate），并且给出了原因（since over the last decade a substantial number of new industrial facilities that emit these pollutants have been built）。

看一下正确选项D
前半部分
The first is a position that the reasoning contends is inadequately supported by the evidence
分解意思应该为：
1、The first is a position
2、the reasoning contends that the first position is inadequately supported by the evidence
后半部分
the second is evidence used to support the reasoning’s contention.
reasoning’s contention指的是整个reasoning的观点：This evidence is far from adequate

所以，正确答案为D。