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Difficulty:
45%
(medium)
Question Stats:
69% (01:44) correct
31%
(02:05)
wrong
based on 2444
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Since the passage of the state’s Clean Air Act ten years ago, the level of industrial pollutants in the air has fallen by an average of 18 percent. This suggests that the restrictions on industry embodied in the act have worked effectively. However, during the same period the state has also suffered through a period of economic decline. The number of businesses in the state has fallen by 10 percent, and the number of workers employed has fallen by 12 percent. It is probable that the business decline, rather than the regulations in the act, is responsible for at least half of the decline in the pollution.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the conclusion drawn in the passage above?
(A) During the last ten years, economic conditions in the nation as a whole have been worse than those within the state.
(B) Amendments to the Clean Air Act that were enacted six years ago have substantially strengthened its restrictions on industrial air pollution.
(C) Of the businesses that ceased operating in the state during the last ten years, only 5 percent were engaged in air-polluting industries.
(D) Several large corporations left the state during the last ten years partly in order to avoid compliance with the Clean Air Act.
(E) Due to its small budget, the state office charged with enforcement of the Clean Air Act has prosecuted only two violators of the law since its passage.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the conclusion drawn in the passage above?
(A) During the last ten years, economic conditions in the nation as a whole have been worse than those within the state.
(B) Amendments to the Clean Air Act that were enacted six years ago have substantially strengthened its restrictions on industrial air pollution.
(C) Of the businesses that ceased operating in the state during the last ten years, only 5 percent were engaged in air-polluting industries.
(D) Several large corporations left the state during the last ten years partly in order to avoid compliance with the Clean Air Act.
(E) Due to its small budget, the state office charged with enforcement of the Clean Air Act has prosecuted only two violators of the law since its passage.
30 May 2009, 04:54
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(A) During the last ten years, economic conditions in the nation as a whole have been worse than those within the state. (No discussion about economic condition in nation. Out of scope)
(B) Amendments to the Clean Air Act that were enacted six years ago have substantially strengthened its restrictions on industrial air pollution. (These is no discussion about amendments to act. Out of scope)
(C) Of the businesses that ceased operating in the state during the last ten years, only 5 percent were engaged in air-polluting industries. (Correct and weaken the conclusion, which states that because of economic decline air pollution had fallen)
(D) Several large corporations left the state during the last ten years partly in order to avoid compliance with the Clean Air Act. (Strengthen the conclusion)
(E) Due to its small budget, the state office charged with enforcement of the Clean Air Act has prosecuted only two violators of the law since its passage. (There is no talk about budget. Out of scope)
(B) Amendments to the Clean Air Act that were enacted six years ago have substantially strengthened its restrictions on industrial air pollution. (These is no discussion about amendments to act. Out of scope)
(C) Of the businesses that ceased operating in the state during the last ten years, only 5 percent were engaged in air-polluting industries. (Correct and weaken the conclusion, which states that because of economic decline air pollution had fallen)
(D) Several large corporations left the state during the last ten years partly in order to avoid compliance with the Clean Air Act. (Strengthen the conclusion)
(E) Due to its small budget, the state office charged with enforcement of the Clean Air Act has prosecuted only two violators of the law since its passage. (There is no talk about budget. Out of scope)
13 Feb 2017, 21:19
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let us simplify the argument -
Premise -
level of industrial pollutants has fallen by 18 percent.
Two reasons are proposed for this -
One line of reasoning
Restrictions on industry placed by the Act have been effective.
Author's reasoning
Economic decline (No. of businesses fell by 10% + No. of workers employed fell by 12%) led to reduction in pollutants' levels.
We have been asked to weaken the author's reasoning.
Option A - Incorrect.
Not relevant. We are not concerned about the economic conditions in the nation, but whether economic conditions in the state led to a decline in levels of pollutants.
Option B - Incorrect.
Not relevant. This does not deny author's line of reasoning that economic decline led to decline in pollutant levels.
Option C - Correct Answer.
this suggests that reduction in the number of businesses (10%) was not responsible for the reduction in air pollution. Because the percentage of air polluting industries that closed was only 0.5%. (5 percent of 10%).
Then a 18% reduction in pollution levels could not have been caused by the closure of just 0.5% of the industries. Some other reason must account for this decline.
Option D - Incorrect.
Strengthens the argument.
Option E - Incorrect.
Kind of strengthens the argument.
lax enforcement might imply reduced compliance.
This then weakens the opposing argument that Restrictions on industry placed by the Act led to decline in levels of pollutants.
Premise -
level of industrial pollutants has fallen by 18 percent.
Two reasons are proposed for this -
One line of reasoning
Restrictions on industry placed by the Act have been effective.
Author's reasoning
Economic decline (No. of businesses fell by 10% + No. of workers employed fell by 12%) led to reduction in pollutants' levels.
We have been asked to weaken the author's reasoning.
Option A - Incorrect.
Not relevant. We are not concerned about the economic conditions in the nation, but whether economic conditions in the state led to a decline in levels of pollutants.
Option B - Incorrect.
Not relevant. This does not deny author's line of reasoning that economic decline led to decline in pollutant levels.
Option C - Correct Answer.
this suggests that reduction in the number of businesses (10%) was not responsible for the reduction in air pollution. Because the percentage of air polluting industries that closed was only 0.5%. (5 percent of 10%).
Then a 18% reduction in pollution levels could not have been caused by the closure of just 0.5% of the industries. Some other reason must account for this decline.
Option D - Incorrect.
Strengthens the argument.
Option E - Incorrect.
Kind of strengthens the argument.
lax enforcement might imply reduced compliance.
This then weakens the opposing argument that Restrictions on industry placed by the Act led to decline in levels of pollutants.
