Question
Biodegradable Plastic Bags, Not so Biodegradable.
Samples were examined every seven days with images taken, and small pieces removed from duplicate samples for further examination in the lab. This included scanning electron microscopy to examine the fibers at high resolution, and Raman spectroscopy to gain information about the chemical composition and molecular structure of the fibers. The samples were then submerged again, in a process that lasted for 231 days at the sea surface and 196 days at the seafloor. After the conclusion of the Scripps Pier experiment, the samples were moved to the Experimental Aquarium at Scripps Oceanography, where samples were exposed to controlled conditions of flowing seawater. While the natural, cellulose-based textiles repeatedly disintegrated in 30-35 days, the oil-based and bio-based materials showed no sign of disintegration even after a total of 428 days.
“The natural, cellulose-based materials would disintegrate in about one month, so we would exchange for a new sample after the old one disintegrated,” said Royer. “The natural, cellulose-based samples were replicated five times, while the other materials remained the same for more than a year.”
What kind of reasoning is demostrated by the company's claim in these paragraphs?
1. half-truth
2. fallacy
3. bias
4. gambler's fallacy
Samples were examined every seven days with images taken, and small pieces removed from duplicate samples for further examination in the lab. This included scanning electron microscopy to examine the fibers at high resolution, and Raman spectroscopy to gain information about the chemical composition and molecular structure of the fibers. The samples were then submerged again, in a process that lasted for 231 days at the sea surface and 196 days at the seafloor. After the conclusion of the Scripps Pier experiment, the samples were moved to the Experimental Aquarium at Scripps Oceanography, where samples were exposed to controlled conditions of flowing seawater. While the natural, cellulose-based textiles repeatedly disintegrated in 30-35 days, the oil-based and bio-based materials showed no sign of disintegration even after a total of 428 days.
“The natural, cellulose-based materials would disintegrate in about one month, so we would exchange for a new sample after the old one disintegrated,” said Royer. “The natural, cellulose-based samples were replicated five times, while the other materials remained the same for more than a year.”
What kind of reasoning is demostrated by the company's claim in these paragraphs?
1. half-truth
2. fallacy
3. bias
4. gambler's fallacy
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The reasoning demonstrated by the company's claim in these paragraphs can best be described as **1. half-truth**.
This is because the text suggests that the biodegradable plastic bags are not as biodegradable as claimed, as the cellulose-based materials break down much faster than the oil-based and bio-based materials, which show little to no disintegration over a significant period. While there is some truth to the claim that certain biodegradable materials exist, the evidence presented indicates that the specific products in question do not meet the expected standards for biodegradable behavior, leading to a misleading impression about the effectiveness of "biodegradable" bags.
This is because the text suggests that the biodegradable plastic bags are not as biodegradable as claimed, as the cellulose-based materials break down much faster than the oil-based and bio-based materials, which show little to no disintegration over a significant period. While there is some truth to the claim that certain biodegradable materials exist, the evidence presented indicates that the specific products in question do not meet the expected standards for biodegradable behavior, leading to a misleading impression about the effectiveness of "biodegradable" bags.