Initial Analysis: Avoiding a temporary set-back adds up so much that the accumulated trouble is much bigger over a period of time.
(A) Although insecticides are effective in ridding the environment of insect pests, they often kill beneficial insects at the same time. Since these beneficial insects are so important, we must find other ways to combat insect pests.
REJECTED: There is a mixed benefit here. In the argument, the result is totally harmful.
(B) Increasing the base salary of new employees is good for a company. Although the company’s payroll will increase, it will be easier for the company to recruit new employees.
REJECTED: The result is a benefit here. In the argument, the result is misery
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(C) It is unwise to use highway maintenance funds for construction of new roads. There is some immediate benefit from new roads, but if these funds are not used for maintenance, the total maintenance cost will be greater in the long run.
RIGHT ANSWER: It mirrors the argument. Avoiding maintenance of existing roads for building new roads means that the accumulated maintenance of old and new roads will be harder.
(D) It is better to invest in a used piece of equipment than to purchase a new one. Although used equipment requires more repairs and is sometimes more costly in the long run, buying a new machine requires a far greater initial outlay of capital.
REJECTED: The greater outlay of capital will more than make up for maintenance of used equipment.
(E) Sports cars are impractical for most drivers. While there is undoubtedly a certain thrill associated with driving these cars, their small size makes them incapable of transporting any but the smallest amounts of cargo.
REJECTED: It is not necessary that Sports cars be used for transporting cargo.