All laundry detergents contain surfactants

Question

All laundry detergents contain surfactants, which can harm aquatic life. However, the environmental effects of most ingredients in laundry detergents, including most of those in so-called "ecologically friendly" detergents, are unknown. Therefore, there is no reason to suppose that laundry detergents advertised as ecologically friendly are less damaging to the environment than other laundry detergents are.

Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?

(A) Laundry detergents that are advertised as ecologically friendly contain much lower amounts of surfactants, on average, than do other laundry detergents.
(B) There is no reason to suppose that most of the ingredients in laundry detergents not advertised as ecologically friendly harm the environment significantly.
(C) Different kinds of laundry detergents contain different kinds of surfactants, which differ in the degree to which tlhey could potentially harm aquatic life.
(D) There is reason to suppose that ingredients in laundry detergents other than surfactants harm the environment more than surfactants do.
(E) Laundry detergents advertised as environmentally friendly are typically less effective than other detergents, so that larger amounts must be used.

LSAT

rahulswimmer · Answer

The argument here is, that surfactants harm the environment. So if surfactant is less in a detergent then it will cause less harm. We have to find an option that matches this.
A seems to be the right option for that.

A

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KeyurJoshi · Answer

Conclusion: Ecologically friendly can be equally damaging or more damaging than other laundry detergents

(A) Laundry detergents that are advertised as ecologically friendly contain much lower amounts of surfactants, on average, than do other laundry detergents. -  Correct. Reason to believe that they are LESS damaging. 
(B) There is no reason to suppose that most of the ingredients in laundry detergents not advertised as ecologically friendly harm the environment significantly. -  No effect on the argument. 
(C) Different kinds of laundry detergents contain different kinds of surfactants, which differ in the degree to which tlhey could potentially harm aquatic life. -  What degrees are used in ecologically friendly ones and other detergents is unknown. 
(D) There is reason to suppose that ingredients in laundry detergents other than surfactants harm the environment more than surfactants do. -  Does not affect the argument. 
(E) Laundry detergents advertised as environmentally friendly are typically less effective than other detergents, so that larger amounts must be used. -  Amount to be used is irrelevant.

CEdward · Answer

To be clear, D) is wrong because it contradicts the premise correct? That's a no-no on the GMAT.

All laundry detergents contain surfactants, which can harm aquatic life. However, the environmental effects of most ingredients in laundry detergents, including most of those in so-called "ecologically friendly" detergents, are unknown. Therefore, there is no reason to suppose that laundry detergents advertised as ecologically friendly are less damaging to the environment than other laundry detergents are.

Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?

(A) Laundry detergents that are advertised as ecologically friendly contain much lower amounts of surfactants, on average, than do other laundry detergents. CORRECT
(B) There is no reason to suppose that most of the ingredients in laundry detergents not advertised as ecologically friendly harm the environment significantly. X
(C) Different kinds of laundry detergents contain different kinds of surfactants, which differ in the degree to which tlhey could potentially harm aquatic life. X
(D) There is reason to suppose that ingredients in laundry detergents other than surfactants harm the environment more than surfactants do. X
(E) Laundry detergents advertised as environmentally friendly are typically less effective than other detergents, so that larger amounts must be used. X

desertEagle · Answer

D is incorrect because the comparison between dangerousness of "surfactants" and "other ingredients" does not matter as we do not know the ingredients of "ecologically friendly" Or other detergents

Taulark1 · Answer

All laundry detergents contain surfactants, which can harm aquatic life. However, the environmental effects of most ingredients in laundry detergents, including most of those in so-called "ecologically friendly" detergents, are unknown. Therefore, there is no reason to suppose that laundry detergents advertised as ecologically friendly are less damaging to the environment than other laundry detergents are.

Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?

(A) Laundry detergents that are advertised as ecologically friendly contain much lower amounts of surfactants, on average, than do other laundry detergents.
 -> This gives us reason to see why the ecologically friendly detergents could be less damaging. This is the right weakener

(B) There is no reason to suppose that most of the ingredients in laundry detergents not advertised as ecologically friendly harm the environment significantly.
 -> Okay but these detergents could still be little more harmful / equally harmfully / less harmful . Theres just no reason to see them as SIGNIFICANTLY harmful. 
So this has no impact on the argument

(C) Different kinds of laundry detergents contain different kinds of surfactants, which differ in the degree to which they could potentially harm aquatic life.
 okay so do the ecologically friendly detergents have which kind of surfactant ? one that does more harm or less? 
again no impact on the argument

(D) There is reason to suppose that ingredients in laundry detergents other than surfactants harm the environment more than surfactants do.
 - okay good, so these kind of ingredients are there in both the types of detergents ? if not then is there more harmful ingredients in the ecological friendly one or not ? 
again no impact with this option.

(E) Laundry detergents advertised as environmentally friendly are typically less effective than other detergents, so that larger amounts must be used.
 - Does larger amount mean more harm ? it could very well be that the ingredients in the environmentally friendly detergent are just less harmful regardless of the amount. Or they could be more harmful. knowing the Quantity doesn't help here.

unraveled · Answer

All laundry detergents contain surfactants, which can harm aquatic life. However, the environmental effects of most ingredients in laundry detergents, including most of those in so-called "ecologically friendly" detergents, are unknown. Therefore, there is no reason to suppose that laundry detergents advertised as ecologically friendly are less damaging to the environment than other laundry detergents are.

Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?

(A) Laundry detergents that are advertised as ecologically friendly contain much lower amounts of surfactants, on average, than do other laundry detergents. - CORRECT. We have a reason to believe that ecologically friendly ones are less damaging to environment. 
(B) There is no reason to suppose that most of the ingredients in laundry detergents not advertised as ecologically friendly  harm the environment significantly . - WRONG. Harming whether significantly or not is not the question. Irrelevant.
(C) Different kinds of laundry detergents contain different kinds of surfactants, which  differ in the degree to which they could potentially harm aquatic life . - WRONG. Again an open scenario is presented. So, nothing is certain.
(D) There is reason to suppose that  ingredients in laundry detergents other than surfactants harm the environment more  than surfactants do. - WRONG. Irrelevant. The effects are not known as said in passage. 
(E) Laundry detergents advertised as environmentally friendly are typically less effective than other detergents, so that  larger amounts must be used . - WRONG. Even if large amounts is used, we are left with a question as in how much is that amount. It remains a open possibility wherein amount is smaller than non-ecologically friendly detergents or larger.

Answer A.

guddo · Answer

All laundry detergents contain surfactants, which can harm aquatic life. However, the environmental effects of most ingredients in laundry detergents, including most of those in so-called "ecologically friendly" detergents, are unknown. Therefore, there is no reason to suppose that laundry detergents advertised as ecologically friendly are less damaging to the environment than other laundry detergents are. 
 
Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?

The argument says that because many detergent ingredients have unknown environmental effects, we cannot assume “ecologically friendly” detergents are less harmful.  To weaken this , we need evidence that ecologically friendly detergents are less harmful in some known, relevant way.

(A) Laundry detergents that are advertised as ecologically friendly contain much lower amounts of surfactants, on average, than do other laundry detergents.

Correct. The passage specifically says surfactants can harm aquatic life. If ecologically friendly detergents contain much less of this harmful ingredient, then there is a reason to think they may be less environmentally damaging.

(B) There is no reason to suppose that most of the ingredients in laundry detergents not advertised as ecologically friendly harm the environment significantly.

Wrong. This supports the argument by suggesting regular detergents may not be especially harmful.

(C) Different kinds of laundry detergents contain different kinds of surfactants, which differ in the degree to which they could potentially harm aquatic life.

This is too general. It says surfactants differ in harmfulness, but does not show that ecologically friendly detergents contain the less harmful kinds.

(D) There is reason to suppose that ingredients in laundry detergents other than surfactants harm the environment more than surfactants do.

Wrong. This does not show that ecologically friendly detergents are less harmful. It may even make the surfactant difference less important.

(E) Laundry detergents advertised as environmentally friendly are typically less effective than other detergents, so that larger amounts must be used.

Wrong. This strengthens the argument because using larger amounts could make these detergents just as harmful or more harmful.

Answer: (A)

AbhishekP220108 · Answer

Hi  akela  let me try to help

Conclusion-there is no reason to suppose that laundry detergents advertised as ecologically friendly are less damaging to the environment than other laundry detergents are.

Reason-All laundry detergents contain surfactants, which can harm aquatic life ans the environmental effects of most ingredients in laundry detergents, including most of those in so-called "ecologically friendly" detergents, are unknown.

So to weaken we have to find an option that can differentiate between most ecologically advertised and other, along with something that can tell they are less damaging

Option A perfectly captures the gap. Whereas option C just tells that the quantity and type of surfactants is different but didnt connect with ecological effect. Hence not a weakener

guddo · Answer

I think C weakens only conditionally.

C says different surfactants vary in harm, but it does not say **eco-friendly detergents actually use the safer surfactants**.

Your logic adds an extra “if”:

if eco-friendly detergents use milder surfactants

But the option itself does not establish that.

A is stronger because it directly says eco-friendly detergents contain much lower amounts of a known harmful ingredient. That gives an actual reason to think they are *less damaging*, not just possibly less damaging.

All laundry detergents contain surfactants

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All laundry detergents contain surfactants

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