carcass wrote:
If interest rates remain at their current high levels, many people who currently rent their residences will hesitate to purchase homes. As the price of real estate continues to climb, the costs of a mortgage will be too burdensome. Sellers will be forced to lower their asking prices. So, high interest rates will eventually cause the real estate market to stabilize.
In the argument above, the portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
(A) The first is the author’s main point; the second is a prediction that follows from that point.
(B) The first is a consideration that the author believes will result in a certain situation; the second is that situation.
(C) The first is a consideration that weighs against the author’s main point; the second is the author’s main point.
(D) The first is a prediction; the second is evidence in support of that prediction.
(E) The first is the author’s main point; the second is evidence used to argue against that point.
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
The question asks us to analyze the structure of the argument. Specifically, we are asked to determine the respective roles of the two portions in boldface. To do so, we need first to find the conclusion of the argument and then determine the relationship of each boldface portion to that conclusion.
The author argues that high interest rates will cause people to refrain from buying homes because their mortgage costs will be too high. In turn, sellers will be forced to lower their asking prices. In the end, this chain of events will work to stabilize the real estate market. So the last sentence, which happens to be the second boldface portion, is the conclusion. The first boldface portion is a fact that the author belives will lead to the stabilization of the market. We need to find a choice that reflect this assessment.
(A) The first portion is not the author's main point (another term for conclusion).
(B) CORRECT. The first portion is indeed a consideration that the author believes will result in a particular situation, namely the stabilization of the market. The second is indeed that situation.
(C) The first portion does not weigh against (contradict) the author's main point (conclusion).
(D) The first is indeed a prediction, but the second portion is not evidence -- it is the conclusion.
(E) The first portion is not the main point (conclusion).