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GMAT Club Olympics 2024 (Day 10): City Councilor Statement

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Bunuel

This question was provided by GMAT Club
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In the text, there was a missing link between single-use plastics to the cause of urban flooding in Centerville. The answer should show evidence that single-use plastics actually was the cause to the clog in the drainage system. E showed that there was an actual connection so I chose E. Other answers don't address this but rather address other problems outside of scope or even weaken the argument.

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The answer is (E) On days following heavy rainfall, the majority of debris removed from Centerville’s drainage systems is identified as single-use plastic. This statement directly links the use of single-use plastics to the clogging of the city’s drainage systems, which is identified as the primary cause of urban flooding in Centerville. If the majority of the debris is indeed single-use plastic, then banning these items should significantly reduce the blockages and, therefore, the incidents of flooding.

Let’s briefly analyze why the other options are not as strong:

(A) While it’s good that non-plastic materials are efficiently processed, this doesn’t directly support the claim that banning single-use plastics will reduce flooding.
(B) This option talks about the benefits of banning single-use plastics in terms of resource and energy consumption, but it doesn’t directly address the issue of urban flooding.
(C) This option provides evidence of benefits in other cities, but it doesn’t specifically mention a reduction in urban flooding.
(D) While it might be more cost-effective to enforce the ban than to clean up after floods, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the ban will reduce the incidence of flooding.

IMO E.

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The only contender for the answers are A and E because others are not related to the plastic thing really.
Let's compare options (A) and (E) carefully:

(A) Centerville's waste management system efficiently processes non-plastic materials, which rarely contribute to drainage blockages.
This statement informs us that non-plastic materials are not a significant problem for drainage blockages. It indirectly suggests that the problem might be due to plastics, but it doesn't provide direct evidence that single-use plastics specifically are the major cause of the drainage issues. It implies that since non-plastic materials are not causing the problem, plastics might be the issue, but it doesn't definitively link single-use plastics to flooding.

(E) On days following heavy rainfall, the majority of debris removed from Centerville’s drainage systems is identified as single-use plastic.
This statement provides direct and specific evidence that single-use plastics are the main component of the debris causing drainage blockages during heavy rainfalls. It directly supports the claim by showing a clear link between single-use plastics and the problem of clogged drainage systems leading to flooding.
To strongly support the claim that banning single-use plastics will significantly reduce urban flooding incidents, the evidence must show a direct connection between single-use plastics and the drainage blockages that cause flooding.

Option (E) provides a direct observation that single-use plastics are the primary debris causing blockages, which makes it the most compelling support for the claim.

Therefore, the correct answer is E.

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The conclusion of the passage is : By implementing this ban, we believe that we will significantly reduce urban flooding incidents. and we need to strengthen it

(A) Centerville's waste management system efficiently processes non-plastic materials, which rarely contribute to drainage blockages.
This is correct, if we get ridd of the first cause of the flooding and we're sure to tackle efficiently the other causes, then we can sure that we can reduce the flooding incidents, Correct
(B) The disposal of single-use plastics in Centerville consumes more resources and energy than any other type of disposable products, thus if single-use plastics are banned, the city would have multiple benefits.
The only benefit that imports us actually is getting rid off flooding incidents, not energy consumption or anything else, False
(C) Cities that have banned single-use plastics have observed significant reductions in landfill waste and improvements in overall environmental quality.
Again, The only benefit that imports us actually is getting rid off flooding incidents, not environemental quality or aything else

(D) The cost of cleaning the city's drainage systems after floods is significantly higher than the projected costs of enforcing the plastic ban.
This says that from the point of view of cost, our argument is standing , but from the perspective that import us ( reduce urban flooding incidents) has no impact, False
(E) On days following heavy rainfall, the majority of debris removed from Centerville’s drainage systems is identified as single-use plastic.
we don't know wether the minority of debrus left is still causing the flooding or not ! it can't be a stregnthner

Correct answer is A

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City Councilor Statement: The majority of urban flooding in Centerville is caused by improper disposal of waste, which clogs the city's drainage systems during heavy rainfalls. As most of this waste comes from disposable plastic products, the city proposes to ban the use of all single-use plastics. By implementing this ban, we believe that we will significantly reduce urban flooding incidents.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the claim that the proposal, if carried out, will have the announced effect?

Reframed Question: Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the claim that the single-use plastic ban will significantly reduce urban flooding incidents?

(A) Centerville's waste management system efficiently processes non-plastic materials, which rarely contribute to drainage blockages. -Doesn't directly supports the claim that the single-use plastic ban will significantly reduce urban flooding incidents

(B) The disposal of single-use plastics in Centerville consumes more resources and energy than any other type of disposable products, thus if single-use plastics are banned, the city would have multiple benefits.-Although banning will have multiple benefits, it doesn't supports the claim that the single-use plastic ban will significantly reduce urban flooding incidents

(C) Cities that have banned single-use plastics have observed significant reductions in landfill waste and improvements in overall environmental quality.-Although banning will have multiple benefits, it doesn't supports the claim that the single-use plastic ban will significantly reduce urban flooding incidents

(D) The cost of cleaning the city's drainage systems after floods is significantly higher than the projected costs of enforcing the plastic ban.-Although banning will have multiple benefits, it doesn't supports the claim that the single-use plastic ban will significantly reduce urban flooding incidents

(E) On days following heavy rainfall, the majority of debris removed from Centerville’s drainage systems is identified as single-use plastic.-Directly supports the claim that attacking root-cause (i.e. single-use plastic ban) will significantly reduce urban flooding incidents

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City Councilor Statement: The majority of urban flooding in Centerville is caused by improper disposal of waste, which clogs the city's drainage systems during heavy rainfalls. As most of this waste comes from disposable plastic products, the city proposes to ban the use of all single-use plastics. By implementing this ban, we believe that we will significantly reduce urban flooding incidents.

From the above, we need to support that banning plastic will lead to propoer disposal of waste.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the claim that the proposal, if carried out, will have the announced effect?

(A) Centerville's waste management system efficiently processes non-plastic materials, which rarely contribute to drainage blockages.
This option focuses on non-plastic materials, stating that they rarely contribute to drainage blockages. While this suggests that non-plastic waste is not a problem, it does not directly support the claim that banning single-use plastics will reduce flooding.

(B) The disposal of single-use plastics in Centerville consumes more resources and energy than any other type of disposable products, thus if single-use plastics are banned, the city would have multiple benefits.
This option discusses the resource and energy consumption of disposing of single-use plastics, suggesting multiple benefits from the ban. However, it does not directly address the impact on urban flooding.

(C) Cities that have banned single-use plastics have observed significant reductions in landfill waste and improvements in overall environmental quality.
This option mentions other cities observing improvements in environmental quality after banning single-use plastics. Although positive, it does not specifically address the issue of urban flooding in Centerville.

(D) The cost of cleaning the city's drainage systems after floods is significantly higher than the projected costs of enforcing the plastic ban.
This option compares the cost of cleaning drainage systems with the cost of enforcing the plastic ban. While relevant to a cost-benefit analysis, it does not directly support the claim about reducing urban flooding.

(E) On days following heavy rainfall, the majority of debris removed from Centerville’s drainage systems is identified as single-use plastic.
This option states that the majority of debris removed from Centerville’s drainage systems after heavy rainfall is single-use plastic. This directly links single-use plastics to the cause of drainage blockages and supports the claim that banning them would reduce urban flooding.

Hence E.

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Bunuel

This question was provided by GMAT Club
for the GMAT Club Olympics Competition

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Majority of urban flooding in Centerville is caused by improper disposal of waste
waste clogs the city's drainage systems during heavy rainfalls

As most of this waste comes from disposable plastic products
By implementing ban on use of all single use plastics, council will significantly reduce urban flooding incidents.

(A) Centerville's waste management system efficiently processes non-plastic materials, which rarely contribute to drainage blockages.
--It says waste management system processes non-plastic well so plastic is a problem but this does not connect how banning single use plastic will help it. so out

(B) The disposal of single-use plastics in Centerville consumes more resources and energy than any other type of disposable products, thus if single-use plastics are banned, the city would have multiple benefits.
-- this talks about other benefits from this ban and hence out

(C) Cities that have banned single-use plastics have observed significant reductions in landfill waste and improvements in overall environmental quality.
-- this gives more belief that citities that banned have observed reduction in landfill and environmental quality. But it could be coincidence or something else was happening at that time that improved. However this looks good at this moment. Lets keep this up

(D) The cost of cleaning the city's drainage systems after floods is significantly higher than the projected costs of enforcing the plastic ban.
-- this talks about cost aspect and hence based on cost advantage this is good.

(E) On days following heavy rainfall, the majority of debris removed from Centerville’s drainage systems is identified as single-use plastic.
-- this says that during rainfall debris removed from drainage system is majorly single use plastic. So this gives us more beleif that banning them will help in getting drainage clear during rainfall
This is a better choice and hence is the answer

E is the answer

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The City Councilor makes a very clear link between the majority of urban flooding and improper disposal of waste, mainly single-use plastic products. The Councilor's solution is to implement a ban on single-use plastics with the goal of reducing urban flooding incidents.

The question asks for the statement that most strongly supports the claim that the proposal, if carried out, will have the announced effect?

(A) Centerville's waste management system efficiently processes non-plastic materials, which rarely contribute to drainage blockages.

Not relevant as we are looking for link between disposable plastic and its contribution to urban flooding. This statement does not address that. The question also talks about improper disposal of waste, while this statement addresses proper disposal of waste.

(B) The disposal of single-use plastics in Centerville consumes more resources and energy than any other type of disposable products, thus if single-use plastics are banned, the city would have multiple benefits.

We are not concerned with the other benefits, we specifically want to examine the link between urban flooding and single-use plastic.

(C) Cities that have banned single-use plastics have observed significant reductions in landfill waste and improvements in overall environmental quality.

We only care about what the effect of banning single-use plastic will have on the Councilor's city. There could be other factors influencing the environmental quality of other cities. Not relevant.

(D) The cost of cleaning the city's drainage systems after floods is significantly higher than the projected costs of enforcing the plastic ban.

It is never mentioned that cost is a factor that the Councilor was taking into consideration. It is irrelevant here.

(E) On days following heavy rainfall, the majority of debris removed from Centerville’s drainage systems is identified as single-use plastic.

This hits the nail on the head. The Councilor states that "The majority of urban flooding in Centerville is caused by improper disposal of waste, which clogs the city's drainage systems during heavy rainfalls and that most of this waste comes from disposable plastic products." Therefore, finding disposable plastic debris, which accounts for the majority of debris removed, following heavy rainfall is exactly the kind of statement that strongly supports the City Councilor's Statement.

Answer is E.

Bunuel

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Bunuel

This question was provided by GMAT Club
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Correct choice:

(E) On days following heavy rainfall, the majority of debris removed from Centerville’s drainage systems is identified as single-use plastic.
--> This strongly suggests that ban of single-use plastic will significantly reduce the urban flooding as it is stated that most of the waste come from disposable plastic but we are banning just single-use plastic.

Incorrect choices:

(A) Centerville's waste management system efficiently processes non-plastic materials, which rarely contribute to drainage blockages.
--> This choice does not state that ban of single-use plastic will be the most effective as majority of waste is due to disposable plastic but we are just banning single-use plastic and in passage only we can see that the non-plastic waste is not in majority.

(B) The disposal of single-use plastics in Centerville consumes more resources and energy than any other type of disposable products, thus if single-use plastics are banned, the city would have multiple benefits.
--> These are other benefits of banning single-use plastic but it is not talking about significant reduction in flooding.

(C) Cities that have banned single-use plastics have observed significant reductions in landfill waste and improvements in overall environmental quality.
--> Again other benefits of ban but irrelevant to the reduction in flooding.

(D) The cost of cleaning the city's drainage systems after floods is significantly higher than the projected costs of enforcing the plastic ban.
--> We are not concerned about the cost reduction.

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City Councilor Statement: The majority of urban flooding in Centerville is caused by improper disposal of waste, which clogs the city's drainage systems during heavy rainfalls. As most of this waste comes from disposable plastic products, the city proposes to ban the use of all single-use plastics. By implementing this ban, we believe that we will significantly reduce urban flooding incidents.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the claim that the proposal, if carried out, will have the announced effect?

(A) Centerville's waste management system efficiently processes non-plastic materials, which rarely contribute to drainage blockages.
It does provide some support to the successful implementation.
Let's keep this.

(B) The disposal of single-use plastics in Centerville consumes more resources and energy than any other type of disposable products, thus if single-use plastics are banned, the city would have multiple benefits.
The author does not discuss any disposal mechanism what so ever. This option is out of scope.
Eliminate

(C) Cities that have banned single-use plastics have observed significant reductions in landfill waste and improvements in overall environmental quality.
Landfill waste and environmental quality are not related to clogged drainage systems.
Adding to that, these cities may have done other important things such as planting numerous trees to achieve these results, which may not be applicable to discussion at hand.
Eliminate

(D) The cost of cleaning the city's drainage systems after floods is significantly higher than the projected costs of enforcing the plastic ban.
Because City Councilor has not shown concern towards the economic aspect, we too should keep that out of the picture.
Eliminate

(E) On days following heavy rainfall, the majority of debris removed from Centerville’s drainage systems is identified as single-use plastic.
It does provide support to the successful implementation.
Let's keep this.

Out of all the options, only 2 options support the claim that the proposal, if carried out, will have the announced effect.
A and E provide support to the argument, while A does not mention the reasoning behind it's assumption.
E perfectly provides support to why the proposal, if implemented, would reduce urban flooding incidents.
The proposal is planning to remove single-use plastics as single-use plastics are assumed to be the roadblocks.

E is correct.

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To start, lets identify what the claim is. The statement is about urban flooding being caused by clogged drainage system which they claim is because of single-use plastic (is why they mention banning all single-use plastic). So to strengthen or support this claim, we need an answer that proves single-use plastic is the cause of flooding.

"City Councilor Statement: The majority of urban flooding in Centerville is caused by improper disposal of waste, which clogs the city's drainage systems during heavy rainfalls. As most of this waste comes from disposable plastic products, the city proposes to ban the use of all single-use plastics. By implementing this ban, we believe that we will significantly reduce urban flooding incidents.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the claim that the proposal, if carried out, will have the announced effect?"

(A) Centerville's waste management system efficiently processes non-plastic materials, which rarely contribute to drainage blockages.
-while this may be true, it is irrelevant to the claim, we are focused on reasons why the system isn't properly draining, not on what they're doing well.

(B) The disposal of single-use plastics in Centerville consumes more resources and energy than any other type of disposable products, thus if single-use plastics are banned, the city would have multiple benefits.
-this is a tempting answer since it discusses the benefits of the ban, however I think it is too broad to be our answer. We are more focused on why banning single-use plastic would decrease flooding not its other benefits.

(C) Cities that have banned single-use plastics have observed significant reductions in landfill waste and improvements in overall environmental quality.
-this follows the same logic pattern as B. it is too broad for the claim we are trying to support.

(D) The cost of cleaning the city's drainage systems after floods is significantly higher than the projected costs of enforcing the plastic ban.
-out of scope, if the claim focused on economical reasons rather than just aiming to reducing flooding it would support, but for our claim it doesnt.

(E) On days following heavy rainfall, the majority of debris removed from Centerville’s drainage systems is identified as single-use plastic.
-CORRECT! this one gives us more evidence for why banning single-use plastics would reduce flooding. If it is already the majority of debris, then we can assume if banned the drains would be clear and thus no flooding.

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19 Jul 2024, 10:57

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Bunuel

This question was provided by GMAT Club
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We are looking the statement that would most strongly support the claim that the proposal to ban single-use plastics will help reducing flooding incidents caused by clogged drainage systems. Let's look at each:

(A) Centerville's waste management system efficiently processes non-plastic materials, which rarely contribute to drainage blockages.

-> This does not contribute to the claim that banning single use plastics will reduce flooding incidents. This isn't what we're looking for.

(B) The disposal of single-use plastics in Centerville consumes more resources and energy than any other type of disposable products, thus if single-use plastics are banned, the city would have multiple benefits.

-> This tells us additional benefits but we are looking for the impact it would have on urban flooding by single-use plastics. This isn't what we're looking for.

(C) Cities that have banned single-use plastics have observed significant reductions in landfill waste and improvements in overall environmental quality.

-> This looks at benefits seen in other cities but doesn't address what impact banning single-use plastics would on urban flooding. This isn't what we're looking for.

(D) The cost of cleaning the city's drainage systems after floods is significantly higher than the projected costs of enforcing the plastic ban.

-> This looks at financial impacts of but once again doesn't address what impact banning single-use plastics would on urban flooding. This isn't what we're looking for.

(E) On days following heavy rainfall, the majority of debris removed from Centerville’s drainage systems is identified as single-use plastic.

-> This directly links the single-use plastics with the flooding caused due to clogging of the drainage systems. Banning the plastics and effectively removing them from the equation would reduce urban flooding by clearing the blockages. This is the correct answer.

The answer is E.

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A - If the non plastic material rarely contribute to drainage blockages, it does not matter whether the waste management system for them is efficient or not. Therefore, this neither strengthens nor weakens the argument.

B - We are not concerned about getting multiple benefits from the plan. If the plan succeeds in reducing urban flooding, that would all the more make the argument strong. Eliminate.

C - It may be the case that the city in question is different in some aspect from the cities mentioned in the option. We do not have enough information to know whether this acts as a strengthener. Eliminate.

D - Even if there is a financial incentive to enforce the ban, do we know if banning single use plastics will lead to less clogging the drainage system? This option is not sufficient to strengthen the argument

E - Correct. Notice that the argument jumps from saying that majority of the waste comes from disposable plastic to banning single use plastics. We need to have a connection between the two. If majority of the debris is indeed single use plastic, the plan will succeed in reducing urban flooding.

Therefore, E

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(E) On days following heavy rainfall, the majority of debris removed from Centerville’s drainage systems is identified as single-use plastic.

E strengthens the fact that drainage system contains single use plastic and banning them would strongly meet the desired goal of reducing blockages of drainage systems.

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(A) Centerville's waste management system efficiently processes non-plastic materials, which rarely contribute to drainage blockages.
This weakens the argument.

(B) The disposal of single-use plastics in Centerville consumes more resources and energy than any other type of disposable products, thus if single-use plastics are banned, the city would have multiple benefits.
Irrelevent information.

(C) Cities that have banned single-use plastics have observed significant reductions in landfill waste and improvements in overall environmental quality.
THis does not mean Centerville also have the same effect.

(D) The cost of cleaning the city's drainage systems after floods is significantly higher than the projected costs of enforcing the plastic ban.
Outcome can not be determined with this.

(E) On days following heavy rainfall, the majority of debris removed from Centerville’s drainage systems is identified as single-use plastic.
This strongly supports the claim as drainage system debris has found majority of single use plastic.
Answer is E

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(A) Centerville's waste management system efficiently processes non-plastic materials, which rarely contribute to drainage blockages.

This option suggests that non-plastic materials do not significantly contribute to drainage blockages, indirectly suggesting that plastics are a major contributor. However, it doesn't directly support the effectiveness of the plastic ban in reducing flooding.

(B) The disposal of single-use plastics in Centerville consumes more resources and energy than any other type of disposable products, thus if single-use plastics are banned, the city would have multiple benefits.

While this option provides additional reasons to support a plastic ban, it does not directly address the reduction of drainage blockages and urban flooding.

(C) Cities that have banned single-use plastics have observed significant reductions in landfill waste and improvements in overall environmental quality.

This option discusses benefits of plastic bans in other cities, but it doesn't directly connect to the reduction of urban flooding through reduced drainage blockages.

(D) The cost of cleaning the city's drainage systems after floods is significantly higher than the projected costs of enforcing the plastic ban.

This option suggests a cost benefit of implementing the plastic ban but doesn't directly support the reduction of drainage blockages.

(E) On days following heavy rainfall, the majority of debris removed from Centerville’s drainage systems is identified as single-use plastic.

This directly supports the claim that single-use plastics contribute significantly to drainage blockages after heavy rainfall, thus linking the plastic ban to potential reduction in urban flooding incidents.

Among these options, option (E) is the most relevant and directly supports the councilor's claim.

kavyavishnoi02

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19 Jul 2024, 12:16

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Let's analyse each option:

A. This option does not provide direct evidence that single-use plastics are the primary cause of the blockages. It only implies that other materials are not a significant problem, but does not confirm the impact of plastics. Eliminated.

B. This option addresses environmental benefits and resource consumption but does not directly connect single-use plastics to urban flooding or drainage blockages. Eliminated.

C. This option suggests positive outcomes from plastic bans in other cities but does not specifically link these outcomes to a reduction in urban flooding or drainage issues. Eliminated.

D. This option discusses costs but does not provide evidence that single-use plastics are the primary cause of drainage system blockages and urban flooding. Eliminated.

E. This option directly addresses this claim by stating that the majority of debris removed from drainage systems after heavy rain is indeed single-use plastic. This evidence strongly supports the idea that these plastics are a significant contributor to the problem.

Therefore, the answer is option (E).

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Schools: ESSEC MFin "26 (A)

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19 Jul 2024, 12:58

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Question stem tells us,
Improper disposal of waste -> Majority of urban flooding in Centerville
How? clogs the city's drainage systems during heavy rainfalls
Plan - Ban the use of all single-use plastics as most of waste comes from disposable plastic products.
By implementing this ban -> urban flooding incidents will be significantly reduced.

We need to strengthen the statement by removing external factor affecting plan or providing further evidence.

Let's look at the options,
(A) Centerville's waste management system efficiently processes non-plastic materials, which rarely contribute to drainage blockages.
So, non-plastic materials are not clogging the drainage system, but it doesn't provide further justification for why single-use plastic is clogging the city's system. What about multiuse plastic. This does not strengthen the statement.

(B) The disposal of single-use plastics in Centerville consumes more resources and energy than any other type of disposable products, thus if single-use plastics are banned, the city would have multiple benefits.
Even if there are other advantages of banning single-use plastics, this statement does not tell us why plan will work as intended.

(C) Cities that have banned single-use plastics have observed significant reductions in landfill waste and improvements in overall environmental quality.
No mention if the other cities also faced similar flooding and drainage clog issue. So, we cannot make any prediction for plan based on this.

(D) The cost of cleaning the city's drainage systems after floods is significantly higher than the projected costs of enforcing the plastic ban.
End goal of plan is to reduce urban flodding incidents, city council never said financial reason was one of the reason for plan.

(E) On days following heavy rainfall, the majority of debris removed from Centerville’s drainage systems is identified as single-use plastic.
This statement fills the gap in information by providing additional information about why City council believes that single-use plastic ban will lead to reduced flooding. If majority of debris removed are single-use plastic, then it strengthen city councli's claim that single-use plastic waste is responsible for clogs which leads to urban flooding.

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19 Jul 2024, 13:11

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This is a strenghten question, so the answer will make it more likely for the conclusion to be correct

Conclusion --> banning single use plastic will lead to a decrease in flooding
Prediction --> the single use plastic is the only reason it floods

A --> would weaken the conclusion
B --> irrelevant, the text does not mention the resources
C --> irrelevant, other cities does not matter
D --> the cost is never mentioned
E --> matches the prediction and show there are no other factors that coul diminish the plan

Answer is E