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19 Feb 2017, 21:27
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Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
45%
(medium)
Question Stats:
66% (01:53) correct
34%
(02:10)
wrong
based on 457
sessions
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A recent national study of the trash discarded in several representative areas confirmed that plastics constitute a smaller proportion of all trash than paper products do, whether the trash is measured by weight or volume. The damage that a given weight or volume of trash does to the environment is roughly the same whether the trash consists of plastics or paper products. Contrary to popular opinion, therefore, the current use of plastics actually does less harm to the environment nationwide than that of paper products.
The main conclusion of the argument is
(A) plastics constitute a smaller proportion of the nation's total trash than do paper products
(B) the ratio of weight to volume is the same for plastic trash as it is for paper trash
(C) popular opinion regards the use of paper products as less harmful to the environment than the use of products made from plastic
(D) contrary to popular opinion, a shift away from the use of paper products to the use of plastics would benefit the environment nationwide.
(E) at this time more harm is being done to the environment nationwide by the use of paper than by the use of plastics
The main conclusion of the argument is
(A) plastics constitute a smaller proportion of the nation's total trash than do paper products
(B) the ratio of weight to volume is the same for plastic trash as it is for paper trash
(C) popular opinion regards the use of paper products as less harmful to the environment than the use of products made from plastic
(D) contrary to popular opinion, a shift away from the use of paper products to the use of plastics would benefit the environment nationwide.
(E) at this time more harm is being done to the environment nationwide by the use of paper than by the use of plastics
20 Feb 2017, 19:50
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the first statement gives a fact -"plastics constitute a smaller proportion by weight or volume than paper products".
the second sentence - "similar weight/volume leads to same amount of damage".
the first two sentences support (hence, premise) for the third sentence. the 3rd sentence acts as a conclusion -
"the current use of plastics actually does less harm to the environment nationwide than that of paper products."
Which option states this? Option E.
Note that this is also preceded by the conclusion indicator "therefore".
Let us look at the answer options -
Option A - Incorrect.
this is not the author's conclusion/opinion. It is just an evidence/fact stated.
Option B - Incorrect.
Cannot be inferred. We only know this - "The damage that a given weight or volume of trash does to the environment is roughly the same".
this does not mean that "weight/volume" (density) for both plastics and paper products is the same.
Option C - Incorrect.
"popular opinion" is not the "author's opinion/conclusion". In fact, the author's opinion is "contrary" to the popular opinion.
Option D - Incorrect.
Incorrect. Because the argument clearly states that both paper/plastics cause same amount of damage per weight or volume. Hence, shifting to paper products is unlikely to help.
the second sentence - "similar weight/volume leads to same amount of damage".
the first two sentences support (hence, premise) for the third sentence. the 3rd sentence acts as a conclusion -
"the current use of plastics actually does less harm to the environment nationwide than that of paper products."
Which option states this? Option E.
Note that this is also preceded by the conclusion indicator "therefore".
Let us look at the answer options -
Option A - Incorrect.
this is not the author's conclusion/opinion. It is just an evidence/fact stated.
Option B - Incorrect.
Cannot be inferred. We only know this - "The damage that a given weight or volume of trash does to the environment is roughly the same".
this does not mean that "weight/volume" (density) for both plastics and paper products is the same.
Option C - Incorrect.
"popular opinion" is not the "author's opinion/conclusion". In fact, the author's opinion is "contrary" to the popular opinion.
Option D - Incorrect.
Incorrect. Because the argument clearly states that both paper/plastics cause same amount of damage per weight or volume. Hence, shifting to paper products is unlikely to help.
mykrasovski
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05 Dec 2019, 18:30
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This seems to be a Main Point question which is a sub-category of Inference questions. On Inference questions we must find an answer that can be 100% supported by the information in the stimulus. The Main Point questions not only must be 100% based on the facts from the stimulus, but also have to convey a main idea / point / observation.
The stimulus tells us that plastic trash is less harmful than paper trash (no matter how we count - by volume or by weight).
The argument says that, contrary to public opinion, at THIS POINT IN TIME plastic trash does less damage than paper trash does.
What can we conclude from the above? What is the main idea? Well, we can say that THESE DAYS paper trash is more harmful than plastic trash. This is what option (E) says. All other options could be true, but not necessarily.
The stimulus tells us that plastic trash is less harmful than paper trash (no matter how we count - by volume or by weight).
The argument says that, contrary to public opinion, at THIS POINT IN TIME plastic trash does less damage than paper trash does.
What can we conclude from the above? What is the main idea? Well, we can say that THESE DAYS paper trash is more harmful than plastic trash. This is what option (E) says. All other options could be true, but not necessarily.
