Most disposable plastic containers are now labeled with a code number (from 1 to 9) indicating the type or quality of...

mexicangirl on July 28, 2020

Can you please explain why B is incorrect

Naomi-Oyakhilome on October 14, 2020

Please explain this question. Thank you

jingjingxiao11111@gmail.com on October 15, 2020

Hi I am not an instructor and I also got it wrong but I understand why the correct answer is correct now. So I will share you my explanation and hopefully you will find it useful.

C is correct because if a plastic container will invariably get a number higher each time after it is recycled, then all lowest plastic will invariably move their number up after each recycling. Thus, when consumers buy lower number plastics and refuse to buy highest number plastics, they do not help increase the number of recycled plastics because the plastics move up in number not because manufacturers refuse to recycle them but because they have already been recycled. In fact, if all consumers buy only lower number plastics, there will eventually be a built-up of highest number plastics that are left unpurchased, and the number of plastics that are recycled will not increase.

I initially picked E and E is incorrect because how a highest number plastic is disposed has no bearing on whether consumer can increase the amount of plastic recycled by refusing to purchase highest number plastic.

Thank you. I am not sure if my reasonings are correct. I got this question wrong first by picking E and on my second attempt I got it correct by choosing C and here is my reasoning. If my reasoning is wrong, please do not hesitate to correct me.

JoshHoward504 on December 15, 2021

Thanks, your explanation helped a lot. I also selected E. I understand why C is correct now.

Ravi on February 11, 2022

With B, the problem is when it says "many consumers are unaware." The conclusion of the argument is about what would happen if people stop purchasing higher-number containers. If they do not know about them, they could still learn about them.

With E, the thing is that we already know that higher-numbered plastics are rarely recycled. E states that the communities attempt to get these recycled. Even though this may be the case, they still don't end up getting recycled for the most part, so we can toss it.

C looks great because the conclusion of the argument said that buying only lower-numbered plastic would keep plastics out of the landfills over the long term. However, if lower-numbered plastics become higher numbered each time they're recycled, then this plan will not have a good effect beyond not having people purchase the higher-numbered plastics that have already been recycled. That's why C weakens this argument.

jingjingxiao11111@gmail.com on February 11, 2022

Thank you!