Question:
The Elk City garbage dumps are so full that Elk City has been forced to pay a large sum to Caribou City to accept much of Elk City’s garbage. The Elk City mayor has proposed paying for this garbage relocation by imposing a tax on manufacturing businesses in Elk City. MegaCorp, the largest manufacturing business in the area, protests that this tax is unfair because businesses should not have to pay for a garbage problem that has been created by homeowners.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens MegaCorp’s argument?
The Elk City garbage dumps are so full that Elk City has been forced to pay a large sum to Caribou City to accept much of Elk City’s garbage. The Elk City mayor has proposed paying for this garbage relocation by imposing a tax on manufacturing businesses in Elk City. MegaCorp, the largest manufacturing business in the area, protests that this tax is unfair because businesses should not have to pay for a garbage problem that has been created by homeowners.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens MegaCorp’s argument?
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Look for evidence that directly links the argument to the specific issue being debated—in this case, responsibility for the garbage problem.
Updated On: Oct 3, 2025
- MegaCorp already pays more than $10,000 per year in taxes and fees to Elk City.
- MegaCorp employs more than 60 percent of the employed residents of Elk City.
- A recycling program would address the garbage problem more effectively by reducing the overall quantity of waste.
- MegaCorp’s manufacturing processes produce more than 90 percent of the total waste that goes into Elk City’s garbage dumps.
- Caribou City is happy to receive the extra garbage because the fees it collects from Elk City have helped to address a shortfall in education funding.
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Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understand the argument.
MegaCorp argues that businesses should not have to pay for a garbage problem created by homeowners. To weaken this argument, we need evidence that directly ties the problem to the businesses, especially MegaCorp.
Step 2: Analyze the answer choices.
- (A) While MegaCorp pays taxes, this does not address the fairness of the proposed tax on businesses to resolve the garbage problem.
- (B) The number of people employed by MegaCorp is irrelevant to the argument about whether businesses should pay for the garbage issue.
- (C) A recycling program is a potential solution but does not directly weaken MegaCorp’s argument about the tax burden on businesses.
- (D) This option directly links MegaCorp’s manufacturing processes to the majority of the waste problem, weakening MegaCorp’s argument that businesses should not bear responsibility.
- (E) Caribou City’s willingness to accept the garbage does not address the fairness of taxing businesses in Elk City.
Conclusion:
Option (D) is the strongest because it shows that MegaCorp is directly responsible for the majority of the waste, thus weakening their argument against the tax.
MegaCorp argues that businesses should not have to pay for a garbage problem created by homeowners. To weaken this argument, we need evidence that directly ties the problem to the businesses, especially MegaCorp.
Step 2: Analyze the answer choices.
- (A) While MegaCorp pays taxes, this does not address the fairness of the proposed tax on businesses to resolve the garbage problem.
- (B) The number of people employed by MegaCorp is irrelevant to the argument about whether businesses should pay for the garbage issue.
- (C) A recycling program is a potential solution but does not directly weaken MegaCorp’s argument about the tax burden on businesses.
- (D) This option directly links MegaCorp’s manufacturing processes to the majority of the waste problem, weakening MegaCorp’s argument that businesses should not bear responsibility.
- (E) Caribou City’s willingness to accept the garbage does not address the fairness of taxing businesses in Elk City.
Conclusion:
Option (D) is the strongest because it shows that MegaCorp is directly responsible for the majority of the waste, thus weakening their argument against the tax.
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