Explanation
The forestry official is addressing a common perception regarding the management of forest fires, stating that small fires actually play a beneficial role in preventing larger, more devastating fires by clearing out small trees and forest debris.
A. The statement does not support the contention that the Forestry Department is not doing its job; rather, it provides a rationale for why the department's approach may be appropriate.
B. (Correct Response) The statement is used to counter the common belief that the Forestry Department is not doing its job properly if it doesn't extinguish all forest fires immediately. By explaining the beneficial role of small fires, the official argues against the idea that quick extinguishment is always the correct approach.
C. The statement does not discuss the potential consequences of the Forestry Department basing its policies on public opinion; it gives a reason for the current policy.
D. While the statement does provide an illustration, it is not used to support the claim that most people believe all forest fires should be extinguished quickly. Instead, it provides a rationale ffor allowing small fires to burn.
E. The statement itself is not a conclusion; it provides the reasoning that leads to the conclusion that it's best to let small forest fires burn.
The role of the statement given is option B. It justifies the practice in spite of the intuitive idea that the forestry service should avoid the forest being on fire.