Speaker: The government must recognize that contemporary business firm

Question

Speaker: The government must recognize that contemporary business firms are able to behave as irresponsibly as they want without fear of losing power. In a modern society, Davis and Blomstrom’s Iron Law of Responsibility, which says that “in the long run, those who do not use power in a manner which society considers responsible will tend to lose it,” no longer applies and never did. History shows that in the long run firms are able to obscure their bad acts with effective public relations or just wait out the short attention span of the public. Thus, a business that wants to act irresponsibly can do so without fear of losing power in society.

Which one of the following statements, if true, most weakens the speaker’s argument?

(A) Some institutions reach a critical mass at which they are too big to fail and will, in a sense, live forever.

(B) Some businesses that have used power in socially irresponsible ways have remained powerful.

(C) The power of some institutions grows faster than the power of others, whether they are socially irresponsible or not.(D) Government institutions are as immune to the Iron Law of Responsibility as business institutions.

(E) Public relations often are transparent and fail to mask a corporation’s truly irresponsible actions.

winterschool · Answer

Speaker: The government must recognize that contemporary business firms are able to behave as irresponsibly as they want without fear of losing power. In a modern society, Davis and Blomstrom’s Iron Law of Responsibility, which says that “in the long run, those who do not use power in a manner which society considers responsible will tend to lose it,” no longer applies and never did. History shows that in the long run firms are able to obscure their bad acts with effective public relations or just wait out the short attention span of the public. Thus, a business that wants to act irresponsibly can do so without fear of losing power in society.

Which one of the following statements, if true, most weakens the speaker’s argument?

(A) Some institutions reach a critical mass at which they are too big to fail and will, in a sense, live forever.  Incorrect

support conclusion

(B) Some businesses that have used power in socially irresponsible ways have remained powerful.  Incorrect

support conclusion

(C) The power of some institutions grows faster than the power of others, whether they are socially irresponsible or not.  Incorrect

additional info

(D) Government institutions are as immune to the Iron Law of Responsibility as business institutions.  Incorrect

it support conclusion, government institution will not loose power in society, so the business institution
 
(E)  Public relations often are transparent and fail to mask a corporation’s truly irresponsible actions.   Correct

so, irresponsible actions can make them losing power in society

ash124 · Answer

Breakdown the Argument:

Conclusion: According to the Speaker, a Business that wants to act irresponsibly can do so without fear of losing power in society

Premise:  Historically, firms are able to brush off their bad acts with effective public relations or just wait out the short attention span of the public

Assumption:   1) Same thing always happens. 
 2) People/press don't bring it(miss-use) up again.
 3) Government doesn't stop firms

Question:   weakens
 
 Any option which shows irresponsibility was not forgotten/forgiven.

(A) Some institutions reach a critical mass at which they are too big to fail and will, in a sense, live forever.
 strengthen

(B) Some businesses that have used power in socially irresponsible ways have remained powerful.
 only talking about some business

(C) The power of some institutions grows faster than the power of others, whether they are socially irresponsible or not.
 Not related: Comparision is happening here

(D) Government institutions are as immune to the Iron Law of Responsibility as business institutions.
 need something related to firms

(E) Public relations often are transparent and fail to mask a corporation’s truly irresponsible actions.
 Better

Answer: E

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Answer: E

STEP 1: Read the question and identify your task. 
This is a Weaken question. You need to find a statement that weakens the speaker’s statement.

STEP 2: Read the argument with your task in mind. 
The speaker talks about how corporations can use public relations to gloss over any malfeasance on their part and ultimately get away with anything as long as they wait out the “short attention span of the public.”

STEP 3: Know what you’re looking for. 
You seek in your answer a statement that contradicts or undermines this idea.

STEP 4: Read every word of every answer choice. 
Answer A may be interpreted as strengthening the argument, saying that a company can become too big to fail despite any socially irresponsible actions. Answer B essentially restates the argument in simpler terms, and it speaks in past tense and does not address what the case might be in the future. Answer C also restates the argument, but with the caveat of faster and slower growth among the corporations. Answer D adds government institutions to the argument, which does not weaken it. Answer E says that public relations are often seen through by the public and fail to mask a corporation’s irresponsible actions. While this may not address the short attention span part of the argument, it does weaken the argument and qualifies it much better than the other answers. The correct choice is answer E.

Saasingh · Answer

IMO E.

(E) Public relations often are transparent and fail to mask a corporation’s truly irresponsible actions.
Because, if public relations fail to mask corporations irresponsible intentions, doesn't matter however much effective their PR is, it wont be useful for the business'.

A out because : some business will never fail. Rather strengthens author's claims.
B out because : Again strengthens. If some businesses HAVE STAYED in power EVEN AFTER being irresponsible, author has a reason to believe the conclusion.
C out because : Comparison between different businesses is out of scope. We dont care whether Business 1 gains power faster than Business 2.
D out because : Govt is immune. Doesnt affect conclusion at all.

Poojita · Answer

B directly reinforces what the author wants to convey. IMO b

Speaker: The government must recognize that contemporary business firm

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Speaker: The government must recognize that contemporary business firm

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