Q14 - Mayor: Our city faces a difficult environmental proble

[Emily Madan]

PT68, S3, Q14 (Explain a Result)

(B) is correct

This question asks us to explain how a recycling program that reduces the amount of a material causing environmental damage would actually end up hurting the environment. The only way this is possible is if there is some problem with the program that creates an environmental cost that could potentially outweigh the benefits. Whether you’re able to come up with a specific problem or not, just knowing that we need to find an environmental cost should be enough to eliminate wrong answers and find the correct one.

(A) This seems relevant because it’s discussing the trucks that are part of the new recycling program. Leave it.

(B) This also seems relevant because it talks directly about the cost of the recycling project. Leave it.

(C) This answer choice doesn’t talk about the recycling program, but rather tells us what must be done with the garbage. Since we’re looking for an answer that gives a problem with the recycling center, this is out of scope. Eliminate it.

(D) Not only does this answer not talk about the problems with the recycling program, it actually says there will be an unforeseen benefit to using it. This is the opposite of what we’re looking for. Eliminate it.

(E) This gives us a reason why recycling may be good on an individual level. If anything, this is saying that recycling programs in general are effective, and doesn’t give us a reason why this recycling program might be counterproductive. Eliminate it.

We’re left with (A) and (B). If we look more closely at (A), we see it’s comparing the costs of the program’s vehicles to the cost of incinerating the garbage. First, incineration seems out of scope, but let’s assume (and this is a big and unwarranted assumption) that incineration is involved in the garbage disposal process. Then what (A) is saying is that the program’s vehicles cause less damage than the current disposal process. This would indicate that the program has a net benefit. Eliminate (A), leaving us with (B). This answer choice directly gives us an unforeseen problem the program creates, making it possible the costs outweigh the benefits.