nelz007 wrote:
in Gandania, where the government has a monopoly on tobacco sales, the incidence of smoking-related health problems has risen steadily for the last twenty years. The health secretary recently proposed a series of laws and aimed at curtailing tobacco use in Gandania. Profits from tobacco sales, however, account for ten percent of Gandania's annual revenues. Therefore, Gandania cannot afford to institute the proposed laws.
Which of the following,if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
A) All health care in gandania is government-funded.
B) Implementing the proposed laws is not likely to cause significant increase in the amount of tobacco gandania exports.
C) The percentage of revenue gandania recieves from tobaco sales has remained steady in recent years.
D) profits from tobaco sales far surpass any other single source of revenue for the gandandian government.
E) No government official in gandania has ever previously proposed laws aimed at curtailing tobacco use.
Could someone please explain the various answer choices. Thanks!
Responding to a pm:
Question Type: Weaken
We should try to weaken the conclusion.
Conclusion: Gandania cannot afford to institute the proposed laws.
Notice the author believes that Gandania cannot AFFORD to institute these laws i.e. the country will suffer financially if these laws are brought in (since tobacco accounts for 10% of the revenue). To weaken the conclusion, we need to bring in some reason because of which the country may not suffer financially even if these laws are brought into effect.
Also notice that the laws aimed at curtailing tobacco use IN Gandania, not in other countries. In the prethinking phase, all I could think of was perhaps the laws encourage export or something - very unethical but we don't need to comment on morals, just the financial aspect (anyway, it wasn't there in the options so no dilemma)
A) All health care in gandania is government-funded.
This option weakens our conclusion. If all health care in govt funded, the cost of health care would be increasing for the govt with tobacco use. If this law is brought into effect, the decrease in smoking could reduce the money spent in health care and hence the govt's finances could essentially stay the same even after the law is brought into effect. Hence, this weakens our conclusion that the govt cannot afford to institute the law. Answer (A)
B) Implementing the proposed laws is not likely to cause significant increase in the amount of tobacco gandania exports.
This option tells us that exports will not increase hence the govt will suffer financially. It strengthens the given conclusion instead of weakening it.
C) The percentage of revenue gandania recieves from tobaco sales has remained steady in recent years.
Out of scope
D) profits from tobaco sales far surpass any other single source of revenue for the gandandian government.
Strengthens the conclusion instead of weakening it.
E) No government official in gandania has ever previously proposed laws aimed at curtailing tobacco use.
Out of scope
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