Official Explanation

Argument Evaluation

This question requires us to identify a claim that seriously weakens the argument that new conservation regulations that require a major reduction in paper and cardboard packaging will reduce dioxin pollution in a certain rural area.

Dioxins are released when household garbage is burned. It seems reasonable to think that reducing packaging material that contains dioxins would help reduce dioxin pollution. Nevertheless, suppose for some reason burning large amounts of paper and cardboard containing dioxins actually—however counterintuitively—leads to a reduction in the amount of dioxins that pollute the environment. This would indicate a major weakness in the argument.

A. Correct. This claim tells us that garbage containing large quantities of paper and cardboard burns at such a high temperature that a portion of the dioxins in the garbage is destroyed. If so, then reducing quantities of paper and cardboard in burned garbage might in fact increase dioxin pollution, not reduce it, despite the fact that paper and cardboard packaging contains dioxins.

B. This choice does not weaken the argument: the amount of dioxin pollution could still be reduced by reducing the amount of dioxin-containing packaging.

C. This choice is not relevant to the question. Even if per-capita sales of products sold in paper and cardboard packaging are relatively low in the area in question, it could still be the case that the amount of dioxin pollution in the area would be reduced if the amount of cardboard and paper packaging was reduced.

D. This choice provides an additional reason for the regulations; it thus does nothing to weaken the argument.

E. Health problems caused by burning dioxins are outside the scope of the argument. Remember, the argument is about whether the regulations will reduce dioxin pollution. Determining whether burning household garbage is harmful might be relevant to deciding whether the plan should be implemented. It is not relevant, though, to deciding whether the plan would work.

The correct answer is A.