A 2023 study reported plastic-recycling rates (% of plastic recycled) in four years for a single country: 2010, 12%; 2015, 18%; 2020, 22%; 2023, 25%. The researchers concluded that recycling rates have risen but at a slowing pace. The strongest support is ______
Which choice most logically completes the text using the data above?
- A
the average across years.
- B
the 2010 rate of 12%.
- C
the 2023 rate of 25%.
- Dcheck_circle
the 6-point gain from 2010-2015, 4-point gain from 2015-2020, and 3-point gain from 2020-2023—rises that are getting smaller.
Explanation
"Rising but at a slowing pace" requires showing successive gains shrinking. Choice B captures this decreasing-gain pattern.