The main objective of private industry is to generate income

Question

The main objective of private industry is to generate income; therefore, any legislated restrictions on business practices operate only to industry's disadvantage. Industry must be allowed complete freedom in the development of new technologies as well as in the manufacturing of products.

Opponents of the conclusion drawn above would be LEAST likely to cite which of the following points in their rebuttals?

A. If consumers know that an industry operates within the bounds of environmental regulations, they are more likely to purchase that company's products.

B. Legislated restrictions force companies to run more efficiently, which in turn reduces operating costs.

C. When a company's management restricts research and development to a few focused areas, the immediate cost benefits are substantial.

D. Technological research is unrestricted by legislation, companies waste money developing similar technologies.

E. Some cases, industrial compliance with strict regulations has resulted in the invention of more efficient means of production.

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Shambhavitrip · Answer

A i think a option wil be correct

gioguidi · Answer

The argument claims that because private industry’s main goal is to generate income, any government restrictions only hurt business. It then concludes that industry should have complete freedom in developing technologies and manufacturing products.

Opponents would try to show that restrictions (or limitations) sometimes help rather than hurt. Consider the points:
• Option A argues that consumers may prefer products from companies that follow environmental rules, helping sales
• Option B argues that restrictions can force companies to operate more efficiently, lowering costs
• Option D suggests that without restrictions, companies might waste resources on duplicate research
• Option E provides examples where strict regulations spurred more efficient production methods

In contrast, Option C discusses a situation where a company’s management voluntarily restricts its own R&D to focus efforts, leading to cost benefits. This is an internal decision, not a legislated restriction. Because the debate is about the effects of government-imposed restrictions, opponents are least likely to cite a point about management decisions.

Thus, the answer is (C).

Abhiswarup · Answer

C Should be the answer.

Opponents rebuttal of the argument that restrictions shouldn't be imposed on technology development and manufacturing of products.

When you go through Option A B D & E, it can be seen in one way or other legislative restrictions is helping industry. Only option C talks about industry research and development in the industry.

As I am inclined towards legislative restrictions I will not use option C in arguments.

Dereno · Answer

The least likely rebuttal point to the conclusion that industry must have complete freedom is  C : "When a company's management restricts research and development to a few focused areas, the immediate cost benefits are substantial."

The option focuses on the management decisions within company rather than the legislative aspect. While other options focuses on the restrictions and legislative regulations. Hence option C least likely

Bunuel · Answer

Official Explanation:

Conclusion:  Any legislated restrictions on business practices operate only to industry's disadvantage.

Premises:  The main objective of private industry is to generate income. Industry must be allowed complete freedom in the development of new technologies as well as in the manufacturing of products.

Assumption:  There's no other way to interpret the facts. Legislated restrictions limit the ability to generate income, and therefore operate only to industry's disadvantage.

This is a weaken EXCEPT question, as evidenced by the question asking which answer would be least likely to be cited by opponents of the conclusion. The passage uses an interpretation of evidence pattern. The interpretation of evidence pattern can be identified because the passage states the fact that The main objective of private industry is to generate income and then concludes that any legislated restrictions on business practices operate only to industry's disadvantage.

The standard assumption of an argument with an interpretation of evidence pattern is that there is no other way to interpret the facts. Because this is a weaken EXCEPT question, the correct answer will either strengthen the argument's conclusion or will be irrelevant. Eliminate answers that weaken the argument by showing ways in which legislated restrictions might help private industry generate income. Evaluate the answer choices, looking for one that reflects this idea.

Choice A: No. This answer is a reversal of the expected answer. If complying with environmental regulations makes consumers more likely to purchase a company's products, this would weaken the argument that legislated restrictions operate only to industry's disadvantage.

Choice B: No. This answer is a reversal of the expected answer. If legislated restrictions lead to a reduction in operating costs, this would weaken the argument that legislated restrictions operate only to industry's disadvantage.

Choice C: Correct.  Whether a company's management chooses to restrict research and development is out of scope. The argument is concerned only with the effect of legislated restrictions, not decisions made independently by the management of a company.

Choice D: No. This answer is a reversal of the expected answer. If lack of legislated restrictions leads companies to waste money, then legislated restrictions must help companies avoid wasting money. This would weaken the argument that legislated restrictions operate only to industry's disadvantage.

Choice E: No. This answer is a reversal of the expected answer. If compliance with regulations sometimes leads to the invention of more efficient means of production, this would weaken the argument that legislated restrictions operate only to industry's disadvantage.

The correct answer is C.

The main objective of private industry is to generate income

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The main objective of private industry is to generate income

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