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- Thu Apr 28, 2016 2:44 pm
#23574
Complete Question Explanation
Method of Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (B)
Pedro says that disposable diapers fill up landfills at a very high rate, so we should switch to cloth diapers. Pedro seems to think that the advantages of disposable diapers — i.e. convenience — are outweighed by the disadvantages of disposable diapers — i.e. the pollution problem. Pedro also seems to think that cloth diapers do not have comparable problems.
Maria responds by pointing out that indeed, cloth diapers do have comparable problems: energy, wastewater pollution, fossil-fuel burning, traffic congestion…
The question stem asks us to characterize Maria's form of argument.
Answer choice (A): Maria's point is about the negatives of cloth diapers, not the negatives of disposable diapers. This answer choice is wrong.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. Maria's opening line: "But you forget…" indicates that she thinks Pedro's conclusion is "hasty." Maria thinks that Pedro is not fully considering the problems with cloth diapers.
Answer choice (C):This answer choice is completely wrong, as it has no connection to Maria's point.
Answer choice (D): It is not clear that Maria demonstrates that cloth diapers are a "far more serious threat to the environment" than disposables. She demonstrates that cloth diapers also have environmental problems, but she has not demonstrated the relative weight of the cloth problems compared to the disposable problems.
Answer choice (E): Maria never mentions the economic advantages of cloth diapers, so this is wrong.
Method of Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (B)
Pedro says that disposable diapers fill up landfills at a very high rate, so we should switch to cloth diapers. Pedro seems to think that the advantages of disposable diapers — i.e. convenience — are outweighed by the disadvantages of disposable diapers — i.e. the pollution problem. Pedro also seems to think that cloth diapers do not have comparable problems.
Maria responds by pointing out that indeed, cloth diapers do have comparable problems: energy, wastewater pollution, fossil-fuel burning, traffic congestion…
The question stem asks us to characterize Maria's form of argument.
Answer choice (A): Maria's point is about the negatives of cloth diapers, not the negatives of disposable diapers. This answer choice is wrong.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. Maria's opening line: "But you forget…" indicates that she thinks Pedro's conclusion is "hasty." Maria thinks that Pedro is not fully considering the problems with cloth diapers.
Answer choice (C):This answer choice is completely wrong, as it has no connection to Maria's point.
Answer choice (D): It is not clear that Maria demonstrates that cloth diapers are a "far more serious threat to the environment" than disposables. She demonstrates that cloth diapers also have environmental problems, but she has not demonstrated the relative weight of the cloth problems compared to the disposable problems.
Answer choice (E): Maria never mentions the economic advantages of cloth diapers, so this is wrong.