Recent studies show that people between the ages of 13 and 55 produce 65 pounds more garbage per year than they did in 1995. This increase has led to a higher percentage of the total garbage produced by all the age groups. This age group constitutes a growing percentage of the population, so it partially explains this rise.

Which of the following can be concluded from passage?

A. People over the age of 55 produce more garbage than people less than the age of 13.
B. Population has risen since 1995.
C. People between the age of 13 and 55 are more than half of current population.
D. Before 1995, people below age 13 and above age 55 produced higher percentage of total garbage than they do now.
E. People between the age of 13 and 55 produce more garbage than those below 13 or older than 55.

my guess is E

Recent studies show that people between the ages of 13 and 55 produce 65 pounds more garbage per year than they did in 1995. This increase has led to a higher percentage of the total garbage produced by all the age groups. This age group constitutes a growing percentage of the population, so it partially explains this rise.

Which of the following can be concluded from passage?

Explanation:
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A. People over the age of 55 produce more garbage than people less than the age of 13. ---> Nothing as such can be concluded from the passage.

B. Population has risen since 1995. ---> Not necessarily true. Even without any rise (i.e., constant growth rate) in population, we can still have the scenario described above.

C. People between the age of 13 and 55 are more than half of current population. ---> This cannot be concluded from the passage.

D. Before 1995, people below age 13 and above age 55 produced higher percentage of total garbage than they do now. ---> Irrelevant. What they did before 1995 is not relevant to the matter at hand.

E. People between the age of 13 and 55 produce more garbage than those below 13 or older than 55. ---> By process of elimination. We can also conclude this by the following: ...increase has led to a higher percentage.....by all the age groups...
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I too go for choice E.


Regards,
Technext
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Thanks for the OA & explanation ConkergMat!

As far as option E is concerned, I now think that it's wrong because it looks very generalised as no time frame has been specified (whether it holds true before 1995, in 1995 or recently).


Regards,
Technext
_________________

+++ Believe me, it doesn't take much of an effort to underline SC questions. Just try it out. +++
+++ Please tell me why other options are wrong. +++

~~~ The only way to get smarter is to play a smarter opponent. ~~~

agree with D. good one