A)

Question

Use the passage to answer the question.
Within three years, two-thirds of the world’s population is expected to face water scarcity.
Since showering accounts for nearly one-fifth of all residential water use, one way that we
all can help to mitigate this problem is by installing low-flow showerheads. While the
decreased flow can be something that requires acclimating to, anyone will agree that
saving nearly 50 percent off your water bill—as well as saving the planet—is a welcomed
change.
A student is developing a counterclaim to this argument. Which counterclaim is the fairest and
most effective?
(1 point)
Many utility boards offer rebates to customers who are willing to install low-flow showerheads,
and the costs of these are passed on to other customers.
The majority of building codes require shower valves that can accommodate changes in system
pressure, which low-flow showerheads typically cannot meet.
The difference between standard and low-flow showerheads is not significant, therefore installing
them would not help save water.
Anyone who’s ever used a low-flow showerhead can tell you that the water takes forever to heat
up, so unless you like cold showers, they don’t use less water

Answer 1

The fairest and most effective counterclaim to the argument is:

The difference between standard and low-flow showerheads is not significant, therefore installing them would not help save water.

This counterclaim directly challenges the effectiveness of low-flow showerheads in addressing the proposed solution to water scarcity, making it a relevant and strong counterpoint to the original argument.