Waste management companies, which collect waste for disposal in landfills and incineration plants, report that disposable plastics make up an ever-increasing percentage of the waste they handle. It is clear that attempts to decrease the amount of plastic that people throw away in the garbage are failing.
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
(A) Because plastics create harmful pollutants when burned, an increasing percentage of the plastics handled by waste management companies are being disposed of in landfills.
(B) Although many plastics are recyclable, most of the plastics disposed of by waste management companies are not.
(C) People are more likely to save and reuse plastic containers than containers made of heavier materials like glass or metal.
(D) An increasing proportion of the paper, glass, and metal cans that waste management companies used to handle is now being recycled.
(E) While the percentage of products using plastic packaging is increasing, the total amount of plastic being manufactured has remained unchanged
5-Day Free Trial
5-day free, full-access trial TTP
Available with Beat the GMAT members only code
MORE DETAILS
WEAKEN Argument
This topic has expert replies
-
bubbliiiiiiii
- Legendary Member
- Posts: 979
- Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:38 am
- Location: Hyderabad, India
- Thanked: 49 times
- Followed by:12 members
- GMAT Score:700
AIM GMAT wrote:Waste management companies, which collect waste for disposal in landfills and incineration plants, report that disposable plastics make up an ever-increasing percentage of the waste they handle. It is clear that attempts to decrease the amount of plastic that people throw away in the garbage are failing.
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
(A) Because plastics create harmful pollutants when burned, an increasing percentage of the plastics handled by waste management companies are being disposed of in landfills.
Out of scope since this describes how plastic disposal is maintained by waste management companies.
(B) Although many plastics are recyclable, most of the plastics disposed of by waste management companies are not.
Same as A.
(C) People are more likely to save and reuse plastic containers than containers made of heavier materials like glass or metal.
Out of scope since we are not concerned with the people's utility of containers made from heavier metals or from plastic.
(D) An increasing proportion of the paper, glass, and metal cans that waste management companies used to handle is now being recycled.
CORRECT! since, it is possible that while keeping the amount of plastic thrown by people to be constant, may be other stuff in the garbage is recylced increasing the proportion of plastic in garbage.
(E) While the percentage of products using plastic packaging is increasing, the total amount of plastic being manufactured has remained unchanged
Out of scope, since this point focusses on recycling of plastic.
Hope it helps.
Regards,
Pranay
Pranay
-
rohu27
- Legendary Member
- Posts: 586
- Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2010 4:38 am
- Thanked: 31 times
- Followed by:5 members
- GMAT Score:730
Stimulus says as the "percent" of plastic disposed is increased, it means people are not decreasing the amount of plastic they use.
now consider this,
earlier, total garbage units=200, plastic =100, percent=50%
now if for some reason garbage=100, plastic=75, percent =75
but the amount of garbage has decreased in reality.
option D gives the info tht other materias are recycled now a days so obviusoly they will not go into waste.
now consider this,
earlier, total garbage units=200, plastic =100, percent=50%
now if for some reason garbage=100, plastic=75, percent =75
but the amount of garbage has decreased in reality.
option D gives the info tht other materias are recycled now a days so obviusoly they will not go into waste.
-
ankursharma05
- Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2010 6:36 pm
Waste management companies, which collect waste for disposal in landfills and incineration plants, report that disposable plastics make up an ever-increasing percentage of the waste they handle. It is clear that attempts to decrease the amount of plastic that people throw away in the garbage are failing.
ANALYSIS :: AUTHOR SAYS THAT THE %ge OF THE PLASTIC IS INCREASING BUT FROM THE STATEMENT WRONGLY INFERS THAT THE AMOUNT OF PLASTIC IS INCREASING AND THUS EFFORTS ARE FAILING TO DECREASE AMOUNT OF PLASTIC
%PLASTIC = (PLASTIC/(TOTAL WASTE)) * 100 ...
SO PLASTIC %ge CAN ALSO INCREASE IF THE TOTAL WASTE DECREASES... NOW WE WILL ANALYZE THE ANSWER CHOICES...
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
(A) Because plastics create harmful pollutants when burned, an increasing percentage of the plastics handled by waste management companies are being disposed of in landfills.
DOESN'T AFFECT THE ARGUMENT AS IT DOESN'T RELATE TO TOTAL WASTE/PLASTIC
(B) Although many plastics are recyclable, most of the plastics disposed of by waste management companies are not.
THIS ALSO DOESN'T THROW LIGHT ON THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF WASTE THROWN BY THE PEOPLE...NO EFFECT
(C) People are more likely to save and reuse plastic containers than containers made of heavier materials like glass or metal.
JUST SHOWS THE PEOPLE'S PREFERENCE... NO EFFECT
(D) An increasing proportion of the paper, glass, and metal cans that waste management companies used to handle is now being recycled.
THIS SHOWS THAT BECAUSE THE OTHER ITEMS OF THE WASTE IS BEING RECYCLED, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF WASTE IS INCREASING AND HENCE THE %GE OF PLASTIC IS INCREASING WITHOUT INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF PLASTIC.. HENCE CORRECT
(E) While the percentage of products using plastic packaging is increasing, the total amount of plastic being manufactured has remained unchanged
RELATED TO THE PLASTIC THAT IS MANUFACTURED... NO EFFECT
ANALYSIS :: AUTHOR SAYS THAT THE %ge OF THE PLASTIC IS INCREASING BUT FROM THE STATEMENT WRONGLY INFERS THAT THE AMOUNT OF PLASTIC IS INCREASING AND THUS EFFORTS ARE FAILING TO DECREASE AMOUNT OF PLASTIC
%PLASTIC = (PLASTIC/(TOTAL WASTE)) * 100 ...
SO PLASTIC %ge CAN ALSO INCREASE IF THE TOTAL WASTE DECREASES... NOW WE WILL ANALYZE THE ANSWER CHOICES...
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
(A) Because plastics create harmful pollutants when burned, an increasing percentage of the plastics handled by waste management companies are being disposed of in landfills.
DOESN'T AFFECT THE ARGUMENT AS IT DOESN'T RELATE TO TOTAL WASTE/PLASTIC
(B) Although many plastics are recyclable, most of the plastics disposed of by waste management companies are not.
THIS ALSO DOESN'T THROW LIGHT ON THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF WASTE THROWN BY THE PEOPLE...NO EFFECT
(C) People are more likely to save and reuse plastic containers than containers made of heavier materials like glass or metal.
JUST SHOWS THE PEOPLE'S PREFERENCE... NO EFFECT
(D) An increasing proportion of the paper, glass, and metal cans that waste management companies used to handle is now being recycled.
THIS SHOWS THAT BECAUSE THE OTHER ITEMS OF THE WASTE IS BEING RECYCLED, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF WASTE IS INCREASING AND HENCE THE %GE OF PLASTIC IS INCREASING WITHOUT INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF PLASTIC.. HENCE CORRECT
(E) While the percentage of products using plastic packaging is increasing, the total amount of plastic being manufactured has remained unchanged
RELATED TO THE PLASTIC THAT IS MANUFACTURED... NO EFFECT
