Question

Recycling bins are placed in a mall and trash volume falls. Which assumption is necessary to claim recycling caused the drop?

• A. People are driven towards recycling given the opportunity
• B. The aesthetics of the recycling infrastructure drives usage
• C. Mall footfall remained stable during the observation period
• D. Mall introduced fees for usage of bins

Hint:

For causal assumption questions, check what must be true for the cause-effect claim to hold, ruling out alternative explanations.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understand the argument — The claim is that recycling bins caused trash volume to fall.
Step 2: Identify necessary assumption — To attribute the drop to recycling bins, the number of visitors (footfall) must remain stable; otherwise, reduced traffic could explain the drop.
Step 3: Evaluate options — Option (c) is the required assumption. Others are peripheral or irrelevant.
Step 4: Conclusion — Option (c) is correct.