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- Wed Nov 30, 2011 12:00 am
#24985
Complete Question Explanation
Method of Reasoning—AP. The correct answer choice is (B)
This editorial begins with a grudging admission that the town would not need to spend as much removing trash if all the residents sorted their own garbage. The argument continues to explain why that expectation is not practical in the town. While many people would follow the order to sort their own trash, others would not and would resent it. It continues to explain that the town should continue with having residents voluntarily sort their own trash, as the number of people who sort their trash would be about the same in a non-voluntary system, but the non voluntary system would cause more negative consequences.
The question stem asks us what role the first sentence plays in the argument. As described above, the first sentence is a fact that the argument grudgingly accepts, but then argues that it should not change current policy. We will want to find an answer choice that in some way describes the grudging way in which the editorialist grants that fact.
Answer choice (A): The author does not claim that the fact is false, but that even though it is true, we should not act on it. The author agrees that the town would save money if all the residents sorted their trash, but states there are reasons to not change policy even in light of that fact.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. The author is willing to grant the fact as true. It supports that the town should force residents to sort their own trash, even though the author concludes that this is not true. This answer choice accurately describes the role the phrase plays in the argument.
Answer choice (C): The sentence is not a difficulty facing the claim, and as stated in answer choice (A), the author does not attempt to refute the claim, or state that it is false. The editorialist accepts the claim, but then argues that it should not change the town’s policy.
Answer choice (D): The author does not need the first sentence to reach the conclusion that the town should have trash sorting as a voluntary activity. The first sentence is a concession to those who oppose his viewpoint. However, the author does not need to address the possibly troublesome fact in order to draw the conclusion.
Answer choice (E): The author’s conclusion is that the town should not institute a mandatory program requiring residents to sort their trash. The editorialist supports the conclusion by stating that a required program would not have the desired effect of all residents sorting their own trash, and would have other undesirable results. The information at the beginning of the argument is thus, not the conclusion.
Method of Reasoning—AP. The correct answer choice is (B)
This editorial begins with a grudging admission that the town would not need to spend as much removing trash if all the residents sorted their own garbage. The argument continues to explain why that expectation is not practical in the town. While many people would follow the order to sort their own trash, others would not and would resent it. It continues to explain that the town should continue with having residents voluntarily sort their own trash, as the number of people who sort their trash would be about the same in a non-voluntary system, but the non voluntary system would cause more negative consequences.
The question stem asks us what role the first sentence plays in the argument. As described above, the first sentence is a fact that the argument grudgingly accepts, but then argues that it should not change current policy. We will want to find an answer choice that in some way describes the grudging way in which the editorialist grants that fact.
Answer choice (A): The author does not claim that the fact is false, but that even though it is true, we should not act on it. The author agrees that the town would save money if all the residents sorted their trash, but states there are reasons to not change policy even in light of that fact.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. The author is willing to grant the fact as true. It supports that the town should force residents to sort their own trash, even though the author concludes that this is not true. This answer choice accurately describes the role the phrase plays in the argument.
Answer choice (C): The sentence is not a difficulty facing the claim, and as stated in answer choice (A), the author does not attempt to refute the claim, or state that it is false. The editorialist accepts the claim, but then argues that it should not change the town’s policy.
Answer choice (D): The author does not need the first sentence to reach the conclusion that the town should have trash sorting as a voluntary activity. The first sentence is a concession to those who oppose his viewpoint. However, the author does not need to address the possibly troublesome fact in order to draw the conclusion.
Answer choice (E): The author’s conclusion is that the town should not institute a mandatory program requiring residents to sort their trash. The editorialist supports the conclusion by stating that a required program would not have the desired effect of all residents sorting their own trash, and would have other undesirable results. The information at the beginning of the argument is thus, not the conclusion.