Critical Reasoning

If the United States continues to waste paper at current levels, the nation's unprotected forests will soon be destroyed and trees in nature preserves will have to be cut down in order to create more paper. Charging every household a fee for each pound of paper it does not recycle will induce Americans to reduce the amount of paper they do not recycle; this charge will therefore protect the trees in nature preserves.

Which of the following is an assumption made in drawing the conclusion that the proposed fee will have its intended effect?


(A) Americans will reduce the amount of paper they do not recycle by reducing the amount of paper products they buy.

(B) The collection fee will not significantly effect the purchasing power of most Americans, even if their households do not recycle.

(C) The fee is substantial enough to effectively deter Americans from not recycling.

(D) The preservation of trees in nature preserves is an important issue for most Americans.

(E) Trees outside the U.S. could be cut down to satisfy Americans' demand for paper.

IT should be C

one more for C

IMO, the assumption is that people should use less paper that cannot be recycled. So, choice A should be given preference over choice C.

IMO A

I go with A

is it C

one more for C, whats the OA

OA is C.

here is from Knewton:


Unprotected forests will be destroyed and trees in nature preserves will have to be cut down if current levels of paper waste continue. Charging fees per pound of paper not recycled will inhibit further paper waste and protect trees in nature preserves.

The question asks for the assumption of the argument. The author concludes that charging every household a fee for each pound of paper it does not recycle will encourage Americans to recycle. This will, in turn, protect the trees in nature preserves.

The author assumes that Americans will comply with the new fee, and thus waste less paper and save the trees in the preserve. The answer must touch on this assumption.

Choice A states that Americans will lower the amount of paper they do not recycle by purchasing fewer paper products. No mention is made of a change in buying habits in the argument.