generis wrote:
In order to achieve self-sufficiency in electricity production, the Hasarian government proposes to construct eleven huge hydroelectric power plants. Although this is a massive project, it is probably not massive enough to achieve the goal. It is true that adding the projected output of the new hydroelectric plants to the output that Hasaria can achieve now would be enough to meet the forecast demand for electricity. It will, however, take at least fifteen years to complete the project and by then the majority of Hasaria's current power plants will be too old to function at full capacity.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
A) The first introduces a proposed course of action for which the argument provides support; the second gives evidence in support of that course of action.
B) The first introduces a proposed course of action for which the argument provides support; the second gives a reason for not adopting a possible alternative course of action.
C) The first introduces a plan that the argument evaluates; the second provides evidence that is used to support that plan against possible alternatives.
D) The first introduces a proposed plan for achieving a certain goal; the second is a claim that has been used in support of the plan but that the argument maintains is inaccurate.
E) The first introduces a proposed plan for achieving a certain goal; the second provides evidence that is used to support the argument's evaluation of that plan.
CR59820.02
For boldface questions, first break down the structure of the argument as a whole, and then focus in on the role of the boldface portions:
- The author introduces a proposal: "the Hasarian government proposes to construct eleven huge hydroelectric power plants." (BF1).
- The author also specifies the goal of the proposal: "to achieve self-sufficiency in electricity production."
On to the meat of the argument:
- The author concludes that "Although this is a massive project, it is probably not massive enough to achieve the goal."
How does the author reach this conclusion?
- First, he/she admits that there is some evidence that the proposal would work: "It is true that adding the projected output of the new hydroelectric plants to the output that Hasaria can achieve now would be enough to meet the forecast demand for electricity." (BF2)
- But then, he/she offers evidence that it probably won't work: "It will, however, take at least fifteen years to complete the project and by then the majority of Hasaria's current power plants will be too old to function at full capacity."
In all, the author's purpose in writing this passage is to evaluate whether a certain proposal will work. The author then provides evidence to show how he/she reached the conclusion that the proposal probably won't work.
Which answer choice captures the role of the two boldfaced portions?
Quote:
A) The first introduces a proposed course of action for which the argument provides support; the second gives evidence in support of that course of action.
The proposed course of action is "to construct eleven huge hydroelectric power plants" -- but the author definitely doesn't
support that proposal. In fact, he/she thinks that the plan probably
won't achieve its goal.
Eliminate (A).
Quote:
B) The first introduces a proposed course of action for which the argument provides support; the second gives a reason for not adopting a possible alternative course of action.
Same issue as (A) -- the author doesn't support the plan.
(B) is out.
Quote:
C) The first introduces a plan that the argument evaluates; the second provides evidence that is used to support that plan against possible alternatives.
The first part looks good! The author's main concern is to evaluate the plan to build power plants.
We run into trouble with the second piece, though. First, the author doesn't support the proposal to build power plants. In addition, the author doesn't discuss possible
alternative plans -- he/she only weighs in on the plan mentioned in the first sentence of the passage.
Get rid of (C).
Quote:
D) The first introduces a proposed plan for achieving a certain goal; the second is a claim that has been used in support of the plan but that the argument maintains is inaccurate.
Again, the first bit looks fine!
But does the author think that the information in the second boldface is
inaccurate? Nope, he/she actually says
"it is true that adding the projected output of the new hydroelectric plants to the output that Hasaria can achieve now would be enough to meet the forecast demand for electricity." The author then goes on to say why the plan won't work
even though the statement is true.
Because the argument doesn't maintain that BF2 is inaccurate, you can eliminate (D).
Which leaves us with (E):
Quote:
E) The first introduces a proposed plan for achieving a certain goal; the second provides evidence that is used to support the argument's evaluation of that plan.
Same explanation of BF1, so everything is good there.
For BF2: The purpose of the last two sentences of the passage is to show
why the author believes that the plan probably won't achieve its goal -- this belief represents the author's EVALUATION of that plan. BF2 is a piece of evidence that the author considers when justifying that evaluation. Sure, it's a bit confusing that the specific information in BF2 seems to go against the author's conclusion -- but the overall purpose of including BF2 is to explain the author's reasoning behind his/her evaluation.
In addition, the other answer choices are flat-out wrong and (E) is clearly the best option. So (E) is the correct answer.
close
21 Apr 2020, 22:57
56%
(02:22)
wrong 
don't correct my grammar here. It's not SC 
