I think it's B.
Senator Strongwood reported that, contrary to a study cited by the administration, a thorough study by his own party concluded that a reduction in the capital gains tax would lead to an increase in the federal deficit. “Hooray for common sense,” he said. “Everyone knows that when you cut taxes you lose revenue.” He concluded that the administration’s plan for reducing the capital gains tax was now dead, because he could not imagine any senator voting to increase the deficit.
Which one of the following accurately describes something Senator Strongwood does in advancing his argument?
(A) He implies that increasing the capital gains tax
would decrease the federal deficit.
We might infer this, but the senator doesn't actually do this.
(B) He assumes senators will believe his party’s report instead of the administration’s.
CORRECT
Key part of the passage: "He concluded that the administration’s plan for reducing the capital gains tax was now
dead"
This is his conclusion and it must be true that he assumes the senators will believe him. If they didn't believe him, then there would be no reason for him to think this.
(C) He
resorts to name-calling by expressly stating that his opponents lack common sense.
No.
(D) He assumes that senators will rarely vote for
unpopular legislation.
No. He doesn't do this...we don't know whether the purportedly flawed legislation is popular or unpopular.
(E) He assumes that a study commissioned by his party must be
more objective than one commissioned by the administration.
No. It's entirely possible that both studies were objective, it just so happens that the Senator's own studies contradict those other studies.
_________________
"Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one." - Bruce Lee