- Wed Apr 27, 2016 9:43 am
#23476
Complete Question Explanation
Strengthen-#%. The correct answer choice is (D)
Here the author presents several facts regarding paper versus plastic trash, and their relative effects on the environment. Whether you measure in terms of volume or weight, plastic makes up a smaller portion of garbage than paper, and pound for pound (or cubic foot by cubic foot), the two have equal detrimental effects associated.
Therefore, the author concludes, popular opinion is incorrect, and plastic is actually less detrimental nationwide than paper.
This question requires that we find the choice which bolsters the author's conclusion that use of plastics is less environmentally harmful than use of paper products.
Answer choice (A): This answer choice plays no role in the author's argument, because the stimulus has already established that paper makes up more trash than plastics, whether measured by volume or by weight.
Answer choice (B): This answer choice is wrong for basically the same reason as incorrect answer choice (A) above: the relative importance of volume versus weight is irrelevant because we already know that paper makes up more trash by either measure.
Answer choice (C): This is irrelevant to the question of whether plastics use is less environmentally damaging than paper use.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. The author points out that paper produces proportionally more trash than plastics. If the production of paper is more environmentally harmful as well, then this strengthens the author's conclusion that plastics use is less damaging to the environment than use of paper products.
Answer choice (E): This type of variation is to be expected, but does not affect the strength of the author's argument, which is based on a national study, of the national proportions of trash.
Strengthen-#%. The correct answer choice is (D)
Here the author presents several facts regarding paper versus plastic trash, and their relative effects on the environment. Whether you measure in terms of volume or weight, plastic makes up a smaller portion of garbage than paper, and pound for pound (or cubic foot by cubic foot), the two have equal detrimental effects associated.
Therefore, the author concludes, popular opinion is incorrect, and plastic is actually less detrimental nationwide than paper.
This question requires that we find the choice which bolsters the author's conclusion that use of plastics is less environmentally harmful than use of paper products.
Answer choice (A): This answer choice plays no role in the author's argument, because the stimulus has already established that paper makes up more trash than plastics, whether measured by volume or by weight.
Answer choice (B): This answer choice is wrong for basically the same reason as incorrect answer choice (A) above: the relative importance of volume versus weight is irrelevant because we already know that paper makes up more trash by either measure.
Answer choice (C): This is irrelevant to the question of whether plastics use is less environmentally damaging than paper use.
Answer choice (D): This is the correct answer choice. The author points out that paper produces proportionally more trash than plastics. If the production of paper is more environmentally harmful as well, then this strengthens the author's conclusion that plastics use is less damaging to the environment than use of paper products.
Answer choice (E): This type of variation is to be expected, but does not affect the strength of the author's argument, which is based on a national study, of the national proportions of trash.