Economist: The economy of the Republic of Nantau has experienced lower

I think it should be A.
In question,statement 2 is negative effect and statement 3 is positive effect.As per the analysis,statement 3 is main conclusion.
PLease help!

The answer is c


1) The value of its currency has dropped against the Yen - FACT

2) As a result, purchases of imported goods, such as usually luxury items or high-end electronics, will likely decrease - Prediction of an Outcome based on above fact.

3) ]However, this will likely help reverse the negative economic trends by creating a trade surplus as export goodsbecome cheaper - Providing conceding contrast i.e. author unwillingly agrees to statement 3 because it provides a counter reasoning to the authors main conclusion i.e. purchases of imported goods will likely decrease.

Hope this helps

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

BF 1 is a fact statement. This statement affects some prediction/result mentioned in the next line.

BF 2 is the main point of the passage.

It is easier to eliminate statements as per BF 2.

Eliminate D: BF 2 is not a prediction.

Eliminate E : BF 2 itself is the main conclusion and not the evidence to support the main point.

Now use BF 1.

A : Not that much to eliminate. Keep it.

B : BF 2 does not support the certain outcome. Actually BF 2 is against the outcome.

C. CORRECT : BF 1 is just showing a development. BF 2 is against the outcome.

(A) The first supplies a context for the argument; the second is the argument's main conclusion.

(B) The first introduces a development that the argument predicts will have a certain outcome; the second is a state of affairs that the argument denies will be part of that outcome.

(C) The first presents a development that the argument predicts will have a certain outcome; the second acknowledges a consideration that weighs against that prediction.

(D) The first provides evidence to support a prediction that the argument seeks to defend; the second is that prediction.

(E) The first and the second each provide evidence to support the argument's main conclusion.


Please explain your solution.

I think C is more detailed but I don't find any wrong with option A

(A) The first supplies a context for the argument; the second is the argument's main conclusion.
The context was established earlier that the economy is in negative progress and second one isn't the main conclusion

(B) The first introduces a development that the argument predicts will have a certain outcome; the second is a state of affairs that the argument denies will be part of that outcome.
The second half predicits it will be part of the outcome and not the other way around and the first half is absolutely correct though but rest is not in sink

(C) The first presents a development that the argument predicts will have a certain outcome; the second acknowledges a consideration that weighs against that prediction.
This is exactly the meaning and the roles played by the 2 bold face therefore let us hang on to it

(D) The first provides evidence to support a prediction that the argument seeks to defend; the second is that prediction.
This is entirely out of the reasoning circle and doesn't even touch the slightest role played by the boldfaces therefore out

(E) The first and the second each provide evidence to support the argument's main conclusion.
These are not the main conclusion of the argument

Therefore IMO C

This is a poor quality question, in my humble opinion.

Answer choice C states: "The first presents a development that the argument predicts will have a certain outcome; the second acknowledges a consideration that weighs against that prediction."

The first portion is absolutely correct; the second is not accurate. BF2 does not "weigh against" the prediction, it furthers the prediction. For BF2 to weigh against the prediction, it would have to in some way contradict the prediction that "purchases...will decrease." It does not do that. It simply states that there is a positive side effect of the stated prediction - it does not weigh against that prediction.

Cheers.

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