Question

evaluating reasons
enticing people to drink recycled water, however, requires getting past what experts call the \yuck\ factor. efforts in the 1990s to develop water reuse in san diego and los angeles were beaten back by activists who denounced what they called, pejoratively, \toilet to tap.\ los angeles built a $55 million purification plant in the 1990s, but never used it to produce drinking water; the water got to irrigation instead.
but with the special purification plant, which has been operating since 2008, orange county swung people to the idea of drinking recycled water. the county does not run its purified water directly into drinking water treatment plants; instead, it sends the water underground to replenish the area’s aquifers and to be diluted by the natural water supply. this environmental buffer seems to provide an emotional buffer for consumers as well.
—\water flowing from toilet to tap
which reason in this passage shows that it is possible to convince people to use recycled water?
what is the best evaluation of the reasoning in this passage?
it is misleading and illogical.
it is relevant and logical.
it is unclear but logical.

Explanation:

Sub-question 1: Which reason in this passage shows that it is possible to convince people to use recycled water?

To determine the reason, we analyze the passage. It states that Orange County has been operating a special purification plant since 2008 and uses an environmental buffer (sending water underground to be diluted by natural water) which seems to provide an emotional buffer for consumers. Also, the county's approach of not running purified water directly into drinking water treatment plants but using the environmental buffer might make people more accepting. Another point is that earlier efforts in San Diego and Los Angeles faced opposition, but Orange County's method worked (implied by "swung people to the idea of drinking recycled water"). So the relevant reason is Orange County's successful approach with the environmental buffer and its method of handling the water before it becomes drinking water, showing that with proper methods (like the environmental buffer and careful handling), people can be convinced.

The passage presents a contrast between past failed attempts (San Diego, Los Angeles) and Orange County's successful attempt. It explains the method Orange County used (special purification, environmental buffer) and how it led to people accepting recycled water. The reasoning is relevant because it uses real - world examples (San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County) to support the idea of what works and what doesn't in convincing people about recycled water. It is logical as it shows a cause - effect relationship: Orange County's different method (environmental buffer, etc.) led to a different outcome (people accepting recycled water) compared to the past methods that faced opposition. So the reasoning is relevant (addresses the topic of convincing people about recycled water with relevant examples) and logical (shows a clear connection between methods and public acceptance).

Answer:

Orange County has been operating a special purification plant since 2008 and uses an environmental buffer (sending water underground to be diluted by natural water) which provides an emotional buffer for consumers, and its approach of not running purified water directly into drinking water treatment plants but using this buffer has swung people to the idea of drinking recycled water, showing it is possible to convince people with proper methods.

Sub-question 2: What is the best evaluation of the reasoning in this passage?