Economist: Prosperity is a driving force behind increases in the

Question

Economist: Prosperity is a driving force behind increases in the release of carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming. As incomes rise, more people spend money on energy-consuming devices such as cars, thereby producing more carbon dioxide. Also, in countries that experienced deep economic recessions, there were steep drops in carbon dioxide emissions.

Which one of the following most accurately states the overall conclusion drawn in the economist's argument?

(A) Carbon dioxide is the main cause of global warming.

(B) Prosperity is an important cause of increases in the release of carbon dioxide.

(C) When incomes rise, more people spend money on energy-consuming devices.

(D) Countries that experienced deep economic recessions also experienced steep drops in carbon dioxide emissions.

(E) When people spend money on energy-consuming devices, more carbon dioxide is produced as a result.

PoojaKGandhi · Answer

Please can someone help me understand how option B is the best possible answer than the rest?

Samrudhi · Answer

Economist: Prosperity is a driving force behind increases in the release of carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming. As incomes rise, more people spend money on energy-consuming devices such as cars, thereby producing more carbon dioxide. Also, in countries that experienced deep economic recessions, there were steep drops in carbon dioxide emissions.

Which one of the following most accurately states the overall conclusion drawn in the economist's argument?

(A) Carbon dioxide is the main cause of global warming. -   The argument is not about causes of global warming

(B) Prosperity is an important cause of increases in the release of carbon dioxide. -   The whole argument is made to reach at this conclusion.

(C) When incomes rise, more people spend money on energy-consuming devices.   - This statement is used to support the argument.

(D) Countries that experienced deep economic recessions also experienced steep drops in carbon dioxide emissions.   - This statement is used to support the argument.

(E) When people spend money on energy-consuming devices, more carbon dioxide is produced as a result.   - This statement is used to reason the conclusion.

Hence the correct answer is option is B.

ramlala · Answer

Hi  PoojaKGandhi

The argument is having two premises.

1.  As  incomes rise, more people spend money on energy-consuming devices such as cars, thereby producing more carbon dioxide.  Main Premise 
2.  Also,  in countries that experienced deep economic recessions, there were steep drops in carbon dioxide emissions.  Additional premise

Conclusion is based on above two premises.

Prosperity is a driving force behind increases in the release of carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming.
 Here "the main cause of global warming" modifies preceding clause.

CEdward · Answer

Economist: Prosperity is a driving force behind increases in the release of carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming. As incomes rise, more people spend money on energy-consuming devices such as cars, thereby producing more carbon dioxide. Also, in countries that experienced deep economic recessions, there were steep drops in carbon dioxide emissions.

Which one of the following most accurately states the overall conclusion drawn in the economist's argument?

(A) Carbon dioxide is the  main  cause of global warming.
-too extreme

(B) Prosperity is an important cause of increases in the release of carbon dioxide. CORRECT

(C) When incomes rise, more people spend money on energy-consuming devices.
-premise

(D) Countries that experienced deep economic recessions also experienced steep drops in carbon dioxide emissions.
-premise

(E) When people spend money on energy-consuming devices, more carbon dioxide is produced as a result.
-premise

HarshaBujji · Answer

Hi Experts  VeritasKarishma   GMATNinja

IMO B by eliminating other choices, But a conclusion cannot be a Premise/part of Argument right??

MBAB123 · Answer

HarshaBujji , it most definitely can be and in all probability, will be a part of the argument. The conclusion here is essentially a summary/main point of the argument (please don't take this as a literal "GMAT bifurcation").

KarishmaB · Answer

Note what both the premises support -

Premises:
As incomes rise, more people spend money on energy-consuming devices such as cars, thereby producing more carbon dioxide. 
Also, in countries that experienced deep economic recessions, there were steep drops in carbon dioxide emissions.

Conclusion: Prosperity is a driving force behind increases in the release of carbon dioxide.

Hence, this is the conclusion. Yes, it is already mentioned in the argument but it doesn't matter. Your job is to identify it. 
In any case, the conclusion will be there in the argument one way or another - it may not use the same words or it could be something you derive from multiple statements or it may be given explicitly.

nsdl1985 · Answer

In a conclusion question, we need to see  what the author is trying to convince us?

The Conclusion answers  'what ' and the Premises answers the  'Why'

We know that the answer choices will answer us 'What', but what is available with us is the Premises.
So we need to think why the Premise is mentioned.

What exactly the author is trying to convince?
=> Prosperity is the driving force for rise in CD
=> Second statement gives the reasoning why prosperity is the driving force
=> In the 3rd statement, the comparison between prosperous countries and economically down countries highlights more that prosperity is critical in rise of CD.

Thus best answer option is B

VerbalBot · Answer

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Economist: Prosperity is a driving force behind increases in the

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