If the cause of a sudden severe list is due to negative initial stability, counter-flooding into empty ballast tanks may __________.

Correct Answer: Option C — cause the unit to flop to a greater angle

If a vessel has negative initial stability (GM < 0), it is in unstable equilibrium. Adding weight, even for counter-flooding, can cause the vessel to 'flop' to a greater angle of loll because the center of gravity remains above the metacenter, failing to provide a positive righting arm.