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01 Jul 2025, 04:12
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Argument Analysis
Civil engineer believes that building a freeway with the restriction of it passing <= 5 miles away from each city is NEEDED to increase the reliability of the transportation system, which will in turn increase trade and economic growth.
Prethinking
The restriction of <=5 miles stands out in this argument. The argument strictly states that the freeway must be no more than 5 miles away, and this is a requirement for the conclusion to follow. The civil engineer is implying that if you exceed this limit of 5 miles, then this whole plan might fail. Perhaps this restriction can serve as a weakener.
Answer choice analysis
A. Building a freeway system that passes as much as ten miles from each city would be sufficient to greatly increase trade between the northern and southern cities of the state - matches prethinking. If building it 10 miles away from each city is good enough to spur the trade, then why would we need to follow the 5-mile restriction? This weakens the engineer's plan.
B. There are other, more important causes for the lack of trade between the northern and southern cities of the state in addition to a lack of reliable methods of transporting goods between these two groups of cities - the argument never states that lack of reliable methods is the only important cause of lack of trade, but it is one of them. the plan is based on addressing this cause and we need to weaken this plan. There could still be other important causes that, when addressed, could add to the increase in trade.
C. The state’s infrastructure budget is not currently large enough to finance the construction of a freeway system - irrelevant. We are not concerned about the budget.
D. Growth in the commercial traffic between two groups of cities is most often associated with the closeness of the transportation system with the cities - irrelevant. Commercial traffic is not addressed in the argument anywhere and is irrelevant to the engineer's plan.
E. The reliability of existing methods of transporting goods between the northern and southern cities of the state can be improved to some extent without building a freeway system - the keyword here is "to some extent". we need the reliability to be improved to an extent that it can increase trade. This answer choice does not specify whether, without the freeway, it can be improved to that extent. "some extent" is vague.
Answer is A
Civil engineer believes that building a freeway with the restriction of it passing <= 5 miles away from each city is NEEDED to increase the reliability of the transportation system, which will in turn increase trade and economic growth.
Prethinking
The restriction of <=5 miles stands out in this argument. The argument strictly states that the freeway must be no more than 5 miles away, and this is a requirement for the conclusion to follow. The civil engineer is implying that if you exceed this limit of 5 miles, then this whole plan might fail. Perhaps this restriction can serve as a weakener.
Answer choice analysis
A. Building a freeway system that passes as much as ten miles from each city would be sufficient to greatly increase trade between the northern and southern cities of the state - matches prethinking. If building it 10 miles away from each city is good enough to spur the trade, then why would we need to follow the 5-mile restriction? This weakens the engineer's plan.
B. There are other, more important causes for the lack of trade between the northern and southern cities of the state in addition to a lack of reliable methods of transporting goods between these two groups of cities - the argument never states that lack of reliable methods is the only important cause of lack of trade, but it is one of them. the plan is based on addressing this cause and we need to weaken this plan. There could still be other important causes that, when addressed, could add to the increase in trade.
C. The state’s infrastructure budget is not currently large enough to finance the construction of a freeway system - irrelevant. We are not concerned about the budget.
D. Growth in the commercial traffic between two groups of cities is most often associated with the closeness of the transportation system with the cities - irrelevant. Commercial traffic is not addressed in the argument anywhere and is irrelevant to the engineer's plan.
E. The reliability of existing methods of transporting goods between the northern and southern cities of the state can be improved to some extent without building a freeway system - the keyword here is "to some extent". we need the reliability to be improved to an extent that it can increase trade. This answer choice does not specify whether, without the freeway, it can be improved to that extent. "some extent" is vague.
Answer is A
01 Jul 2025, 04:12
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A. This says that a freeway can still boost trade even if it's not just within 5 miles. This challenges the need for such a strict condition and weakens the engineer’s argument
B. This mentions that there are other reasons for low trade, in addition to the lack of transport. But that doesn’t directly challenge the idea that a new freeway could help. The argument can still be valid.
C. The fact that the state can’t afford the freeway right now doesn’t affect whether it would help trade. The argument can still be valid.
D. This actually supports the engineer’s point—saying that trade increases when transport systems are closer to cities. So it helps the argument.
E. This says current methods of transport can be made a bit better, but doesn’t refute the need for a freeway.
I will pick option A.
B. This mentions that there are other reasons for low trade, in addition to the lack of transport. But that doesn’t directly challenge the idea that a new freeway could help. The argument can still be valid.
C. The fact that the state can’t afford the freeway right now doesn’t affect whether it would help trade. The argument can still be valid.
D. This actually supports the engineer’s point—saying that trade increases when transport systems are closer to cities. So it helps the argument.
E. This says current methods of transport can be made a bit better, but doesn’t refute the need for a freeway.
I will pick option A.
01 Jul 2025, 04:24
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Civil Engineer: Trade between the northern and southern cities of our state has stagnated greatly. There are few reliable methods of transporting goods between these two groups of cities, so in order to spur economic growth in this state, we must build a freeway system, connecting the two groups of cities, that passes no more than five miles away from each city.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the civil engineer’s reasoning?
A. Building a freeway system that passes as much as ten miles from each city would be sufficient to greatly increase trade between the northern and southern cities of the state. => strengthen, as the prompt said the freeway will be built no more than 5 miles away from each city
B. There are other, more important causes for the lack of trade between the northern and southern cities of the state in addition to a lack of reliable methods of transporting goods between these two groups of cities. => weaken, as this means the freeway may not address the cause for lack of trade between northern and southern cities
C. The state’s infrastructure budget is not currently large enough to finance the construction of a freeway system. => does not weaken, as even without a large enough budget, it does not mean that the freeway won't help trade
D. Growth in the commercial traffic between two groups of cities is most often associated with the closeness of the transportation system with the cities. => does not weaken, may be a strengthener as it provides some evidence that a linkage between transportation and trade increase is warranted
E. The reliability of existing methods of transporting goods between the northern and southern cities of the state can be improved to some extent without building a freeway system => does not weaken, as it gives no indication that a freeway won't help improve trade
Choose B
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the civil engineer’s reasoning?
A. Building a freeway system that passes as much as ten miles from each city would be sufficient to greatly increase trade between the northern and southern cities of the state. => strengthen, as the prompt said the freeway will be built no more than 5 miles away from each city
B. There are other, more important causes for the lack of trade between the northern and southern cities of the state in addition to a lack of reliable methods of transporting goods between these two groups of cities. => weaken, as this means the freeway may not address the cause for lack of trade between northern and southern cities
C. The state’s infrastructure budget is not currently large enough to finance the construction of a freeway system. => does not weaken, as even without a large enough budget, it does not mean that the freeway won't help trade
D. Growth in the commercial traffic between two groups of cities is most often associated with the closeness of the transportation system with the cities. => does not weaken, may be a strengthener as it provides some evidence that a linkage between transportation and trade increase is warranted
E. The reliability of existing methods of transporting goods between the northern and southern cities of the state can be improved to some extent without building a freeway system => does not weaken, as it gives no indication that a freeway won't help improve trade
Choose B
