supersaiyan wrote:
CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN WHY IS IT OPTION E
First thing I do is read the question:
Quote:
Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the reasoning in the spokesperson’s argument?
So I am trying to weaken an argument.
Then I untangle the argument.
Quote:
State spokesperson: Many businesspeople who have not been to our state believe that we have an inadequate road system. Those people are mistaken, as is obvious from the fact that in each of the past six years, our state has spent more money per mile on road improvements than any other state.
So the argument is that we do not have an inadequate road system, BECAUSE we spend more per mile on road improvements than any other state.
How I weaken this reasoning? Well I need to show that spending per mile ≠ adequate road system.
I mean, in some ways this is like saying, "I'm very healthy, I spent more money going to the hospital last year than anyone else.... Spending lots of money might be an indication of severe disfunction in the roadways!
Quote:
(A) In the spokesperson’s state, spending on road improvements has been increasing more slowly over the past six years than it has in several other states.
This seems irrelevant. We already know spending is 'high,' the trend doesn't seem to matter. The question is 'does high spending MEAN adequate roads?'
Quote:
(B) Adequacy of a state’s road system is generally less important to a businessperson considering doing business there than is the availability of qualified employees.
This is a red herring. I don't actually care why the business people might use our roads. I just wonder if they're right that the roads are 'inadequate.'
Quote:
(C) Over the past six years, numerous businesses have moved into the state.
See B. Not relevant.
Quote:
(D) In general, the number of miles of road in a state’ road system depends on both the area and the population of the state.
Again, this doesn't break the link between spending and adequacy the author is trying to set up.
Quote:
(E) Only states with seriously inadequate road systems need to spend large amounts of money on road improvements.
Yep, okay. This shows high spending actually is a sign of INADEQUATE roads, not adequate ones. It has to be E.