In an attempt to promote the widespread use of paper rather than plast

Hello bagdbmba,
The argument here is quite straight forward.
The city plans to ban the SALE of plastic goods (for those that can be replaced with paper) in its city to make things greener.
The biggest assumption made in such scenarios is that "This plan will have the desired effect"

We are expected to pick an answer that will weaken the argument. The answer must therefore expose the weakness in the assumption.
Option D does this.
It says that "Since most townspeople prefer plastic goods to paper goods in many instances, they are likely to purchase them in neighboring towns where plastic goods are available for sale"
If it is found that people purchase plastics from other cities, the ban would essentially have no effect (dumping of plastics will continue happening irrespective of the ban) .
This is the reason why D is correct.

Hope that helps,
Regards,
Ajeeth Peo
Verbal Trainer,
Crack Verbal

1. Question asks for a reason plan won't contribute to goal. The goal concerns the environment

2.
Conclusion/Plan: ban plastic goods so people will use paper
Premise: paper biodegrades

3. Need a reason banning plastic goods and using paper goods will contribute to goal

4.
A: This is a different plan
B: This is not a reason why the plan will contribute to the environmental goal
C: Hold
D: Hold
E: This is a different plan

C vs D
D: Suggests a way for people to get around the plan and still buy plastic
C: Suggests benefits still exist, just have to wait for them

My selection: Choice D

Plan - Ban the sale of disposable plastic goods for which substitutes made of paper exist.
Goal - Promote the widespread use of paper rather than plastic, and thus reduce non biodegradable waste

What suggests that the plan is ill suited to the goal?

(A) Although biodegradable plastic goods are now available, members of the town council believe biodegradable paper goods to be safer for the environment.

Paper is certainly biodegradable so switching to paper will not harm the goal so the plan. /even if some plastic is also biodegradable now, still, switching to plastic might be better.

(B) The paper factory at which most of the townspeople are employed plans to increase production of biodegradable paper goods.

Good for the plan. If plastic is banned, the town will need more paper goods.

(C) After other towns enacted similar bans on the sale of plastic goods, the environmental benefits were not discernible for several years.

We don't know if these "other towns" are comparable to our town. Usually when the question wants to tell us that the towns are comparable we are given so. Also, whether the benefits were discernible or not does not decide whether the benefit is happening or not. Since bio degradation takes a long time, it is possible that the benefits are not visible for a long time but finally there will be benefits.

(D) Since most townspeople prefer plastic goods to paper goods in many instances, they are likely to purchase them in neighboring towns where plastic goods are available for sale.

This seems to suggest that banning plastic goods will be pointless. People will buy plastic from neighbouring towns. Correct.

(E) Products other than those derived from wood pulp are often used in the manufacture of paper goods that are entirely biodegradable.

Irrelevant

Answer (D)

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