thelosthippie wrote:
Two years ago, officials in Bedenia passed landmark drug legislation to combat an explosion of illegal drug use in the country’s major cities. Primarily, the legislation created new controls for preventing the entry of illegal drugs from the neighboring country of Gordenia, the major supplier of illegal drugs to Bedenia. If the plan had been successful, the street price for most illegal drugs in the country’s major cities would not have dropped as it did over the past two years, as long as______________.
Which of the following most logically completes the passage below?
A. The street price of some illegal drugs increased substantially during that time period.
B. There was a major decrease in the supply of illegal drugs during that time period
C. Domestic production of illegal drugs did not increase during that time period
D. The street price of some illegal drugs did not drop during that time period.
E. The drop in the street price for most illegal drugs was not caused solely by a decrease in demand for those drugs.
Meaning Analysis : There were illegal imports of drugs into B from G, and to combat this, B passed a law to prevent this import. However, the argument states that the price of those drugs dropped, implying that the plan of banning was unsuccessful.
The sentence after "As long as" should provide additional support or a necessary condition which has to be true, for the argument to keep up its claim of the plan being unsuccessful.
This could be done in 2 ways -
1. Yes, the plan was unsuccessful because the street price of drugs dropped, and
The internal supply of drugs did not increase more than the amount of supply banned coming from Gordenia2. Yes, the plan was unsuccessful because the street price of drugs dropped, and
the demand for those drugs in the city of Bedania did not drop substantiallyA. The street price of some illegal drugs increased substantially during that time period - If street price of drugs increased after the ban, then why does the passage say that the price dropped? This goes against what the passage says. Incorrect.
B. There was a major decrease in the supply of illegal drugs during that time period - When supply decreases(with no change in demand), the price of a commodity goes up. Goes against the passage again. Incorrect.
C. Domestic production of illegal drugs did not increase during that time period - Tricky one to eliminate. This is exactly was Point (1) states, except that it does not say anything about whats written in bold in (1). Domestic production can increase to 3 levels - (i) - A level which is less than the imports banned, in which case the prices will increase. (ii) A level which is equal to imports banned - In that case, there will be neither an increase nor a decrease in prices. (iii) A level will which is more than the imports banned - This will surely decrease prices. Although, this is not mentioned. - Incorrect
D. The street price of some illegal drugs did not drop during that time period - Even if prices of some drugs dropped, is it necessarily supporting the asserting that the plan was unsuccessful? - Incorrect
E. The drop in the street price for most illegal drugs was not caused solely by a decrease in demand for those drugs. - Correct. As mentioned in point (2)