Trace and Evaluate Arguments Practice Test

Read the passage and answer the question.

An opinion piece claims that school uniforms should be required because they will stop bullying. The writer says, “When everyone wears the same clothes, nobody can be teased for outfits.” As evidence, the writer mentions that one cousin switched to a school with uniforms and felt more comfortable. The writer does not provide school-wide bullying data, does not consider other causes of bullying (like social conflicts or online behavior), and does not explain why uniforms would stop teasing about other things. The writer concludes that uniforms are the best solution and that other anti-bullying programs are unnecessary.

Which choice best identifies the weakness in the argument?

Read the passage and answer the question.

A city website argues that recycling benefits the environment and urges residents to recycle more. It gives several statements: (1) Recycling aluminum uses much less energy than making aluminum from raw ore, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions. (2) Recycling paper can reduce the number of trees cut down and lowers the amount of trash sent to landfills. (3) The city’s recycling bins are blue with a white recycling symbol so they are easy to spot on the curb. (4) The city started its first recycling program in the 1970s and expanded it over time. (5) A state environmental agency reports that the city diverted 18% more waste from landfills after adding curbside pickup, meaning less garbage was buried.

Which piece of evidence is least relevant to the claim that recycling benefits the environment?