Certain politicians in the country of Birangi argue that a 50 percent

Question

Certain politicians in the country of Birangi argue that a 50 percent tax on new automobiles would halt the rapid increase of automobiles on Birangi’s roads and thereby slow the deterioration of Birangi’s air quality. Although most experts agree that such a tax would result in fewer Birangians buying new vehicles and gradually reduce the number of automobiles on Birangi’s roads, they contend that it would have little impact on Birangi’s air-quality problem.

Which of the following, if true in Birangi, would most strongly support the experts’ contention about the effect of the proposed automobile tax on Birangi’s air-quality problem?

A. Automobile emissions are the largest single source of air pollution.
B. Some of the proceeds from the new tax would go toward expanding the nonpolluting commuter rail system.
C. Currently, the sales tax on new automobiles is considerably lower than 50 percent.
D. Automobiles become less fuel efficient and therefore contribute more to air pollution as they age.
E. The scrapping of automobiles causes insignificant amounts of air pollution.

GMATPrep Code  :  VCR002833

grepro · Accepted Answer

A. Automobile emissions are the largest single source of air pollution.
 Does not help in any way 
B. Some of the proceeds from the new tax would go toward expanding the nonpolluting commuter rail system.
 This weakens the expert's stand 
C. Currently, the sales tax on new automobiles is considerably lower than 50 percent.
 Irrelavent 
D. Automobiles become less fuel efficient and therefore contribute more to air pollution as they age.
 Yes even if we dont add new automobiles the existing ones will get older and create more pollution 
E. The scrapping of automobiles causes insignificant amounts of air pollution.
 OOS

alpha_plus_gamma · Answer

If there will be less vehicles on the road and still the air quality can not improve implies that there must be some other reason for degradation of air quality.

A, B and E weaken the experts’ contention 
C does not help to answer why the air quality can not improve.

D is the only option that supports because there's already "the rapid increase of automobiles on Birangi’s roads " and these vehicles are gonna stay there. if they pollute more as they age, the experts’ contention is strengthened.

priyankurml · Answer

Another D

A. Automobile emissions are the largest single source of air pollution.
 If this is true, less car will reduce pollution but that’s not the case 
B. Some of the proceeds from the new tax would go toward expanding the nonpolluting commuter rail system.
 If this is true, pollution will definitely resume, so can’t be a condition 
C. Currently, the sales tax on new automobiles is considerably lower than 50 percent.
 It raises question whether the new automobile will certainly drop… 
D. Automobiles become less fuel efficient and therefore contribute more to air pollution as they age.
 Eureka, no matter how many cars run on road; it’s about age not the number of car 
E. The scrapping of automobiles causes insignificant amounts of air pollution.
 Never mention scrapping in argument

TiffanyLeung · Answer

here is my thought on this

A. this answer weakens the assumption.

B. & C. are irrelevant answers

D. correct. if automobiles become less fuel efficient, then each car would produce more scrap than before. Hence, the reduction of automobiles may not lead to fewer pollution.

E. logically incorrect. if the scrapping of automobiles causes insignificant amoungts of air pollution, then the country doesnt have to set any regulations on controlling the number of automobiles.

nusmavrik · Answer

Although most experts agree that such a tax would result in fewer Birangians buying new vehicles and gradually reduce the number of automobiles on Birangi’s roads,  they contend that it would have little impact on Birangi’s air-quality problem.
  ----> Need to be strengthened. D is only one.

A does not strengthen the last line.

Skywalker18 · Answer

A.Automobile emissions are the largest single source of air pollution.
This is a mild weakener .
B.Some of the proceeds from the new tax would go toward expanding the nonpolluting commuter rail system.
It is irrelevant.
C.Currently, the sales tax on new automobiles is considerably lower than 50 percent.
Out of scope.
D.Automobiles become less fuel efficient and therefore contribute more to air pollution as they age.
Strengthens . It says that the old automobiles contribute significantly to the air pollution because they are inefficient. 
E.The scrapping of automobiles causes insignificant amounts of air pollution.
Out of scope.

Answer D

nitya866656 · Answer

I eliminated D thinking that ..... if old automobiles are the reason for most of the air pollution then these old automobiles can be removed only when people buy new automobiles and hence the number of new automobiles on road matters.

Please clarify what is wrong with this approach

Please clarify what is wrong with this approach

07ab · Answer

1.not our answer
2.weakening
3. irrelevant
4.answer
5.logically incorrect

Posted from my mobile device

VerbalBot · Answer

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Certain politicians in the country of Birangi argue that a 50 percent

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Certain politicians in the country of Birangi argue that a 50 percent

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