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30 Jun 2025, 09:17
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The civil engineer's reasoning is that the stagnation in trade between the northern and southern cities is due to a lack of reliable transportation methods, and therefore, building a freeway system within five miles of each city is necessary to spur economic growth.
Option B weakens this reasoning most seriously because it indicates that there are other, more important causes for the lack of trade beyond transportation issues. If factors such as economic disparities, regulatory barriers, or lack of demand are more significant, then building the freeway might not effectively increase trade, even if it addresses transportation reliability. This undermines the engineer's assumption that improving transportation alone will spur economic growth.
Option A weakens the specific requirement that the freeway must be within five miles but does not challenge the need for a freeway itself. It suggests that a less stringent (and potentially less costly) freeway could suffice, but the core idea that a freeway is necessary remains intact.
Option C addresses budgetary constraints, which is a practical concern but does not directly challenge the logical reasoning that the freeway is necessary for growth.
Option D strengthens the engineer's argument by emphasizing the importance of proximity between transportation systems and cities, supporting the need for a close freeway.
Option E suggests that existing transportation methods can be improved without building a new freeway, providing an alternative solution. However, the phrase "to some extent" is vague and may not fully address the reliability issue, so it does not weaken the reasoning as effectively as option B.
Thus, option B most seriously weakens the argument by questioning the causal link between transportation reliability and trade growth, implying that the proposed freeway might not achieve the desired economic benefits.
Option B weakens this reasoning most seriously because it indicates that there are other, more important causes for the lack of trade beyond transportation issues. If factors such as economic disparities, regulatory barriers, or lack of demand are more significant, then building the freeway might not effectively increase trade, even if it addresses transportation reliability. This undermines the engineer's assumption that improving transportation alone will spur economic growth.
Option A weakens the specific requirement that the freeway must be within five miles but does not challenge the need for a freeway itself. It suggests that a less stringent (and potentially less costly) freeway could suffice, but the core idea that a freeway is necessary remains intact.
Option C addresses budgetary constraints, which is a practical concern but does not directly challenge the logical reasoning that the freeway is necessary for growth.
Option D strengthens the engineer's argument by emphasizing the importance of proximity between transportation systems and cities, supporting the need for a close freeway.
Option E suggests that existing transportation methods can be improved without building a new freeway, providing an alternative solution. However, the phrase "to some extent" is vague and may not fully address the reliability issue, so it does not weaken the reasoning as effectively as option B.
Thus, option B most seriously weakens the argument by questioning the causal link between transportation reliability and trade growth, implying that the proposed freeway might not achieve the desired economic benefits.
30 Jun 2025, 09:19
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argument :
Trade between the northern and southern cities of our state has stagnated greatly
conclusion : 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.
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. ; does not support the conclusion nor does weaken it
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.; this option does weaken conclusion but not wholly
C. The state’s infrastructure budget is not currently large enough to finance the construction of a freeway system.; there is no info about budget here ..
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. this strengthens the argument
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 ; option gives reasoning which seems to most seriously weaken the conclusion
OPTION E
Trade between the northern and southern cities of our state has stagnated greatly
conclusion : 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.
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. ; does not support the conclusion nor does weaken it
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.; this option does weaken conclusion but not wholly
C. The state’s infrastructure budget is not currently large enough to finance the construction of a freeway system.; there is no info about budget here ..
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. this strengthens the argument
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 ; option gives reasoning which seems to most seriously weaken the conclusion
OPTION E
Bunuel
30 Jun 2025, 09:19
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Information given:
- Trade between northern & southern cities has stagnated
- Few reliable ways exist to transport goods between them
- Conclusion: to spur economic growth, a freeway must be built that passes no more than five miles from each city
Question:
- Which option, if true, most seriously weakens the civil engineer's reasoning
Solution:
- A: A freeway ten miles from each city would be sufficient to increase trade
- Granted, this option shows that the five-mile limit may be unnecessarily strict
- However, the need to build a freeway remains
- Does not most seriously weaken civil engineer's reasoning
- B: Other, more important causes for lack of trade exist besides unreliable transport
- Directly attacks core assumptions: that building freeway will fix stagnant trade
- If transport isn't the real (or at least, the most important) cause, the plan won't work
- Strongly weakens civil engineer's reasoning
- C: The state's budget is too small to build the freeway
- This is about feasibility, not whether a freeway would solve the problem
- Does not most seriously weaken civil engineer's reasoning
- D: Growth in traffic is linked to how close transport is to the cities
- Supports the idea that proximity matters, supporting the conclusion
- Does not most seriously weaken civil engineer's reasoning
- E: Reliability of existing transport can be improved without a freeway
- Given that the reliability of existing methods can be improved to some extent without building a freeway system does not imply that no freeway is needed to spur economic growth
- Does not most seriously weaken civil engineer's reasoning
Answer: 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.
- Trade between northern & southern cities has stagnated
- Few reliable ways exist to transport goods between them
- Conclusion: to spur economic growth, a freeway must be built that passes no more than five miles from each city
Question:
- Which option, if true, most seriously weakens the civil engineer's reasoning
Solution:
- A: A freeway ten miles from each city would be sufficient to increase trade
- Granted, this option shows that the five-mile limit may be unnecessarily strict
- However, the need to build a freeway remains
- Does not most seriously weaken civil engineer's reasoning
- B: Other, more important causes for lack of trade exist besides unreliable transport
- Directly attacks core assumptions: that building freeway will fix stagnant trade
- If transport isn't the real (or at least, the most important) cause, the plan won't work
- Strongly weakens civil engineer's reasoning
- C: The state's budget is too small to build the freeway
- This is about feasibility, not whether a freeway would solve the problem
- Does not most seriously weaken civil engineer's reasoning
- D: Growth in traffic is linked to how close transport is to the cities
- Supports the idea that proximity matters, supporting the conclusion
- Does not most seriously weaken civil engineer's reasoning
- E: Reliability of existing transport can be improved without a freeway
- Given that the reliability of existing methods can be improved to some extent without building a freeway system does not imply that no freeway is needed to spur economic growth
- Does not most seriously weaken civil engineer's reasoning
Answer: 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.
Bunuel
