I13-03

Question

With elections around the corner, there has been a lot of debate on the policies formulated and implemented during the tenure of the incumbent government. One such policy is providing free and urgent health care in all major towns to all families with a yearly income of at most $10,000.
 
Select for  Government Achievement  a claim a government representative is likely to present as an achievement, and for  Opposition Rebuttal  a corresponding rebuttal challenging that claim. Make only two selections, one in each column.

Bunuel · Answer

Official Solution:

We need to identify one  government achievement  and its  corresponding rebuttal  from the given options.
 
 Potential Achievements: 
 
• "80% of the population benefits from the policy, as the yearly income of almost 80% of the total population is below $10,000."
 
• "The government has ensured that free healthcare is provided through a network of the best hospitals."
 
 Potential Rebuttals: 
 
• "Free healthcare is provided through a network of preferred providers and hospitals, resulting in a higher cost to the government budget."
 
• "The free healthcare scheme is funded through taxes collected from 30% of the population."
 
• "More than 70% of the population stays in rural areas, which are underdeveloped with almost no connectivity."
 
 Matching the Correct Achievement and Rebuttal 
 
The first achievement states that  80% of the population benefits  from the policy. However, the opposition points out that  more than 70% of the population lives in rural areas with poor connectivity , meaning that even if they qualify, they may not have access to the healthcare facilities provided. This directly challenges the claim that the policy is benefiting 80% of the population.
 
The second achievement highlights the quality of hospitals used for the program. However, none of the rebuttals directly attack the claim that the  best hospitals  are being used. Instead, the rebuttal ("Free healthcare is provided through a network of preferred providers and hospitals, resulting in a high cost to the government budget.") raises the issue of cost, but  cost is not a counterpoint to quality —it introduces a separate issue, making it less relevant as a direct rebuttal. The government does not mention cost at all, as it is obvious that providing free healthcare will be costly.

Correct answer:

Government Achievement:  "80% of the population benefits from the policy, as the yearly income of almost 80% of the total population is below $10,000. "

Opposition Rebuttal  "More than 70% of the population stays in rural areas, which are underdeveloped with almost no connectivity."

Bunuel · Answer

I have revised the question, solution, and formatting by adding more details to enhance clarity.

Hps1991 · Answer

Statement mentions :  One such policy is providing free and urgent health care in  all major towns  to all families with a yearly income of at most $10,000. then how " More than 70% of the population stays in rural areas, which are underdeveloped with almost no connectivity" can be a rebuttal, since policy only considers  major towns ?

Bunuel · Answer

The policy says healthcare is provided  in  major towns to all families earning at most $10,000. It does not say that only people living in major towns are eligible. It only limits the location where the service is available. So the rebuttal is valid. If more than 70% of the population lives in rural areas with poor connectivity, most of them may qualify but still cannot access the service. That directly challenges the claim that 80% of the population benefits.

agrasan · Answer

Hi  MartyMurray   KarishmaB

"Free healthcare is provided through a network of preferred providers and hospitals, resulting in a high cost to the government budget."

Could you please explain why (A) would be incorrect here for the rebuttal? My reasoning is high cost is something that opposition used to find criticism for the plan.

Bunuel · Answer

(A) is wrong here because it does not actually rebut the specific achievement.

The government is claiming: “our policy benefits 80% of the population.”
 
Statement (A) talks about “high cost to the government budget,” but any policy that gives something for free will obviously cost the government money and will obviously not be cheap. That is expected, not a contradiction of the claim.

So (A) is at best a generic complaint about expense, not a criticism of whether 80% really benefit. (E) is better because it directly undercuts that benefit by showing most people cannot realistically access the service.

Karym · Answer

I like the solution - it’s helpful.

Karym · Answer

I like the solution - it’s helpful.

I13-03

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Government Achievement:	Opposition Rebuttal
		Free healthcare is provided through a network of preferred providers and hospitals, resulting in a high cost to the government budget.
		80% of the population benefits from the policy, as the yearly income of almost 80% of the total population is below $10,000.
		The free healthcare scheme is funded through taxes collected from 30% of the population.
		The government has ensured that free healthcare is provided through a network of the best hospitals.
		More than 70% of the population stays in rural areas, which are underdeveloped with almost no connectivity.