You might not be saying it, but that's what they're doing. Testing civilians to see which would be best at holding back lava with their feelings?

[The idea is 100% absurd to him.

Zarkon feels as if his point has been proved, and he also straightens, gazing down at Matt, his attention focused on him fully now.]

It's not acceptable. As you've just said, "when was the last time anyone could truly control emotion"? My point precisely. What will their control be like when they're faced with an oncoming wave of lava? This is not a matter of patching holes.