In a passage of this type, we need to be clear about what are facts and what are opinions. From the same facts, different people may come to different conclusions. Conclusions, inferences, criticisms, predictions, and assumptions are all opinions.
perezhan wrote:
Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on property. In place of this system, the city plans to introduce a sales tax of three percent on all retail sales in the city. Critics protest that three percent of current retail sales falls short of the amount raised for schools by property taxes. The critics are correct on this point. Nevertheless, implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca's schools. Several large retailers have selected Aroca City as the site for huge new stores, and these are certain to draw large numbers of shoppers from neighboring municipalities, where sales are taxed at rates of six percent and more. In consequence, retail sales in Aroca City are bound to increase substantially.
Fact 1: "Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on property."
City's Plan: "In place of
this system, the city plans to introduce a sales tax of three percent on all retail sales in the city."
This system = public schools are funded by property taxes (from Fact 1, the previous sentence)
Planned system: public schools will be funded by a new 3% sales tax
Fact 2: "three percent of current retail sales falls short of the amount raised for schools by property taxes."
Critics Opinion:
- "Critics protest" (because of Fact 2: 3% of current sales is less than what schools receive from property taxes)
-
Unstated Inference from critics: the city's plan won't work
Author's Opinions:"The critics are correct on this point"Here THIS POINT is only Fact 2
as stated in the previous sentence: current sales are not high enough. The author accepts that Fact 2 is true. He
may not share the critics' opinion about the plan.
"Nevertheless, implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca's schools."So the author does not agree with the objection from the critics. He thinks that school funding will probably not reduce. (But how?? Read on... Hint, future sales may not be the same as current sales)
Fact 3: "Several large retailers have selected Aroca City as the site for huge new stores"
Author's Opinions (continued)"and these are certain to draw large numbers of shoppers from neighboring municipalities, ..."This is a prediction from the author. Here THESE are the huge new stores that are expected (from Fact 3).
"In consequence, retail sales in Aroca City are bound to increase substantially".This is another prediction from the author. Now we understand why the author does not agree with the critics.
Once we have done this careful reading, the role of each boldface is clear, and we will not take much time to choose the right answer.
BF-1 is a fact (Fact 2), and everyone accepts the fact. The critics presented BF-1 to support their objection to the plan. The author accepts the fact but he does not agree with their objection.
BF-2 is part of the author's explanation of why he does not agree with the objection.
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