akanshaxo wrote:
Editor: The city's previous recycling program, which featured pickup of recyclables every other week, was too costly. The city claims that its new program, which features weekly pickup, will be more cost effective, since the greater the volume of recyclables collected per year, the more revenue the city gains from selling the recyclables. But this is absurd. People will put out the same volume of recyclables overall; it will just be spread out over a greater number of pickups.
Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the editor's argument?
(A) The cost of collecting and disposing of general trash has been less than the cost of collecting and disposing of recyclables, and this is still likely to be the case under the new recycling program.
(B) Even if the volume of collected recyclables increases, that increase might not be enough to make the recycling program cost effective.
(C) Because the volume of recyclables people accumulate during a week is less than what they accumulate during two weeks, the city expects a recyclables pickup to take less time under the new program.
(D) A weekly schedule for recyclables pickup is substantially easier for people to follow and adhere to than is a schedule of pickups every other week.
(E) Because of the increase in the number of pickups under the new program, the amount charged by the contractor that collects the city's recyclables will increase significantly.
Conclusion : - People will put the same volume of recyclables overall
Pre-thinking : - We need to weaken the above. What if weekly pickup benefits the people and they are able to collect more recyclables ?
(A) The cost of collecting and disposing of general trash has been less than the cost of collecting and disposing of recyclables, and this is still likely to be the case under the new recycling program. --> We are not talking about the cost involved in disposing general trash vs recyclables. OUT
(B) Even if the volume of collected recyclables increases, that increase might not be enough to make the recycling program cost effective. --> Same as A, we are not talking above the cost involved. OUT
(C) Because the volume of recyclables people accumulate during a week is less than what they accumulate during two weeks, the city expects a recyclables pickup to take less time under the new program. --> We do not want to know if it takes less time or more time. OUT
(D) A weekly schedule for recyclables pickup is substantially easier for people to follow and adhere to than is a schedule of pickups every other week. --> This option suggests the weekly schedule will help the people to dispose recyclables. Hence people need not remember the schedule of pick ups and will dispose more recyclables every week. This weakens the argument. CORRECT
(E) Because of the increase in the number of pickups under the new program, the amount charged by the contractor that collects the city's recyclables will increase significantly. --> Again, we are not concerned about the cost involved here. OUT