A
There is no other means of utilizing the heat produced by the steel-manufacturing process that would be more cost effective than installing thermophotovoltaic generators.
B
Using current technology, it would be possible for steel-manufacturing plants to feed the heat they produce into thermophotovoltaic generators in such a way that those generators could convert at least some of that heat into electricity.
C
The amount steel-manufacturing plants would save on their electric bills by feeding heat into thermophotovoltaic generators would be sufficient to cover the cost of purchasing and installing those generators.
D
At least some steel-manufacturing plants rely on electricity as their primary source of energy in the steel-manufacturing process.
E
There are at least some steel-manufacturing plants that could greatly reduce their electricity bills only if they used some method of converting wasted heat or other energy from the steel-manufacturing process into electricity.
A
fails to consider that wildlife management experts probably know best how to facilitate the survival of an endangered species in a habitat
B
fails to recognize that a nonendangered species can easily become an endangered species
C
overlooks the possibility that saving an endangered species in a habitat is incompatible with preserving the overall diversity of species in that habitat
D
presumes, without providing justification, that the survival of each endangered species is equally important to the health of the environment
E
takes for granted that preserving a currently endangered species in a habitat does not have higher priority than preserving species in that habitat that are not endangered
Company spokesperson: In lieu of redesigning our plants, our company recently launched an environmental protection campaign to buy and dispose of old cars, which are generally highly pollutive. Our plants account for just 4 percent of the local air pollution, while automobiles that predate 1980 account for 30 percent. Clearly, we will reduce air pollution more by buying old cars than we would by redesigning our plants.
Summarize Argument
The company spokesperson concludes that the company will reduce air pollution more by buying old cars than it would by redesigning its plants. She supports this by saying that, while the company’s plants account for 4% of local air pollution, automobiles from before 1980 account for 30%.
Notable Assumptions
The company spokesperson assumes a net benefit of disposing of old cars without considering any costs, like how car disposal methods might impact pollution. She also doesn’t consider other factors that might reduce the benefits of the plan, like how many old cars and what kinds of old cars must be disposed of to make a real impact. She also doesn’t address any long-term benefits of redesigning the plants, other than addressing 4% of local air pollution, that might outweigh the benefits of disposing of old cars.
A
Only 1 percent of the automobiles driven in the local area predate 1980.
We know that cars that predate 1980 account for 30% of local air pollution. Even if only 1% of local cars predate 1980, that 1% still accounts for 30% of local air pollution. Thus, (A) doesn’t point out an unaddressed factor that would reduce the benefit of car disposal.
B
It would cost the company over $3 million to reduce its plants’ toxic emissions, while its car-buying campaign will save the company money by providing it with reusable scrap metal.
The spokesperson’s conclusion is about how the company will most effectively reduce local air pollution. Whether the company also saves money in the process is irrelevant.
C
Because the company pays only scrap metal prices for used cars, almost none of the cars sold to the company still run.
This highlights an unaddressed factor that greatly reduces the benefit of the car disposal plan. Cars that aren't running don’t contribute to air pollution. So, if most of the cars the company buys aren't running, the company is not effectively reducing local air pollution.
D
Automobiles made after 1980 account for over 30 percent of local air pollution.
The spokesperson’s argument only addresses the pollution caused by cars made before 1980. The pollution caused by cars made after 1980 is irrelevant.
E
Since the company launched its car-buying campaign, the number of citizen groups filing complaints about pollution from the company’s plants has decreased.
Citizen complaints about pollution don’t necessarily reflect the actual amount of pollution. The spokesperson's argument is about which method will best reduce pollution, not which will best reduce citizen complaints.