Can a charged object exert a force on an uncharged insulator

Can a charged object exert a force on an uncharged insulator? If yes, why; if no, why not? While constructing a leaf electroscope, a student finds the paperclip that connects the bolts to the leaves difficult to work with. To make construction easier, the student uses a plastic tie wrap instead to connect the bolt to the foil leaves. How does this substitution affect the operation of the electroscope? The operation is unchanged. The electroscope will cease to function. The leaves of the electroscope will attract, rather than repel. The electroscope will only detect charge of one sign.

Solution

2.8) No a charged particle cannot exert a electric force on the insulator

2.9) b. the electroscope will cease to function as plastic is a insulator so electroscope does nothing