nikhilsrl wrote:
More and more companies have begun to consume less energy by making themselves more efficient. Over time, these efforts could place the United States at the forefront of an emerging global market for cleaner technologies. Such efforts are also essential to tackling the two big energy-related issues of the age: global warming and the dependence on precarious supplies of oil. The federal government should encourage these efforts by providing the necessary incentives, whether as loans, direct grants or targeted tax breaks.
Which of the following, if true, provides the most effective support for the argument?
(A) On the average, Canadian companies are more energy efficient than those in the United States.
(B) Experts believe that energy efficiency could lower the energy use of the United States to the level of 1995.
(C) In the past, government incentives have made advances in energy conservation feasible, especially in the auto industry.
(D) The dependence on foreign oil is a greater problem in the present than global warming.
(E) The market for cleaner technologies is currently relatively small because of the infrastructure requirements.
Companies are making efforts toward cleaner tech. Such efforts help in resolving other issues too.
Conclusion: The federal government should encourage these efforts by providing the necessary incentives.We need to strengthen (provide support to the argument) the conclusion. Note that there is no mention of the federal govt anywhere in the premises. Only the conclusion mentions that federal govt should encourage these efforts by giving incentives. We need to support the conclusion by saying why it will help if the federal govt supports the efforts.
(A) On the average, Canadian companies are more energy efficient than those in the United States.
Irrelevant. The argument does not discuss any comparison.
(B) Experts believe that energy efficiency could lower the energy use of the United States to the level of 1995.
No relevance of 1995 figures are given in the argument.
(C) In the past, government incentives have made advances in energy conservation feasible, especially in the auto industry.
This option tells us that govt's incentives work in the case of energy conservation. Then it makes sense that the federal govt should give incentives to make energy conservation feasible. This supports our conclusion.
(D) The dependence on foreign oil is a greater problem in the present than global warming.
Both are problems. Which is a bigger problem is irrelevant.
(E) The market for cleaner technologies is currently relatively small because of the infrastructure requirements.
The argument tells us that 'global market for cleaner technologies' is emerging. Whether currently it is tiny, very small or small is irrelevant. We already know that it is not widespread yet but is emerging.
This option doesn't talk about the govt's role at all. The conclusion specifically mentions that the govt should provide incentives. This option doesn't tell us why the govt. should get involved.
Option (E) is incorrect.
Answer (C)