Under a new clean air proposal, the government has decided to tighten controls on the release of certain toxic chemicals, including benzene, formaldehyde, and other carcinogens, by chemical plants. The stated purpose of this proposal is to reduce cancers caused by air pollution. Yet, the chemical industry, rather than the government, is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the proposal. If the past actions of certain polluters in the chemical industry are any indication of future behavior, the net result of the new proposal will be an increase, rather than a decrease, in carcinogens released into the air.

The author is arguing that ____.

A) no chemical companies can be trusted to follow the clean air proposal
b) the chemical industry is responsible for releasing the majority of carcinogens into the air
c) allowing self-monitoring for the new clean air proposal will result in the opposite of its intended consequence
d) to ensure effective implementation, the government should always monitor the execution of its proposals
e) benzene and formaldehyde are two of the most hazardous cancer-causing chemicals


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c) allowing self-monitoring for the new clean air proposal will result in the opposite of its intended consequence --> as the argument talks about self monitoring and if implementation is given to chemical industry we will have more carcinogens released in air. This aptly answers the question.

d) to ensure effective implementation, the government should always monitor the execution of its proposals--> to extreme and uses strong words .. so it cannot be correct

As the question stem says, the net result of the new proposal will be an increase, rather than a decrease, in carcinogens, when earlier it says that the purpose of the proposal is to reduce cancers caused by air pollution. So C is the correct answer, since the stem is arguing that the proposal will achieve the opposite of its purpose.

As for the other answer choices, the argument is about the effectiveness of the clean air proposal, so B and E are not right. Nor is the argument about what proportion of chemical companies will comply with the proposal, so A is not right. And the argument is specifically about self-monitoring among chemical plant polluters, and not about self-monitoring in general, so D is not right.
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Hi mun

let me say some thoughts about this question to help you.

1) this is not an assumtpion question, because based on two things (the word that at the and of the question stem ND the mood of the question) this is NOT an assumption question but rather an INFERENCE or MUST BE TRUE question.

2) I suggest you to to go to this topic and go step-by-step throughout the post to improve you Cr skills

critical-reasoning-megathread-145178.html

best-critical-reasoning-shortcuts-notes-tips-91280.html

This is because if on one hand is useful to post here you questions (we are happy to help you) on the other hand if you do not take control, if you do not have the tools to crack the questions (i. e. study a lot) you do not have a clear compass about: where you go, how attack the question, an efficient strategy to use, and so on....I hope you know what I mean

Now back to the question


Under a new clean air proposal, the government has decided to tighten controls on the release of certain toxic chemicals, including benzene, formaldehyde, and other carcinogens, by chemical plants.

Ok here we have a fact that the governement wants to make effective

The stated purpose of this proposal is to reduce cancers caused by air pollution. Yet, the chemical industry, rather than the government, is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the proposal.

here we have the purpose of the proposal and the fact that the industry itself should control the implementation of a plan

If the past actions of certain polluters in the chemical industry are any indication of future behavior, the net result of the new proposal will be an increase, rather than a decrease, in carcinogens released into the air.

basically here is stated this: IF the industry control all the situation we will not have benefits; the opposite: we will have worst effects. So from this we can deduce that the industry is not able to do nothing by itself(in a few words)

The author is arguing that ____.

(INFERNCE)

(A)no chemical companies can be trusted to follow the clean air proposal

too extreme as answer and we are not completely sure of this

(B)the chemical industry is responsible for releasing the majority of carcinogens into the air

About this statistic we haven't enough indformation

(C)allowing self-monitoring for the new clean air proposal will result in the opposite of its intended consequence

This is what, precisely, I said in the stimulus. The industry, if it pursues the implementation of the proposal , then the same is not able to do nothing without the engagement of the gov. perfect. correct

(D)to ensure effective implementation, the government should always monitor the execution of its proposals

Is not what we care about. the goverment

(E)benzene and formaldehyde are two of the most hazardous cancer-causing chemicals

The chemicals are not our concern

C is indeed the correct answer

Hope this helps you to comprehend better the whole situation
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Question stem states that Author ARGUES that..

C is the author's argument

If stem states that Author PROPOSES that... Then D will be the option..

et, the chemical industry, rather than the government, is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the proposal. If the past actions of certain polluters in the chemical industry are any indication of future behavior, the net result of the new proposal will be an increase, rather than a decrease, in carcinogens released into the air.

The author is arguing that ____.

A) no chemical companies can be trusted to follow the clean air proposal
b) the chemical industry is responsible for releasing the majority of carcinogens into the air
c) allowing self-monitoring for the new clean air proposal will result in the opposite of its intended consequence

My contention - "the chemical industry, rather than the government, is responsible for monitoring the implementation" - how did the self monitoring element of C come into play here? The very fact that govt will release something - how does that imply self monitoring on the part of the industry?
Will need some clarity on the wording. Thank you!

Answer is C.

A is wrong because the author was not absolute in his assertion that no chemical companies can be trusted. Based off the text, he suggests the industry as a whole, but not absolutely every single chemical company can not be trusted. B is suggested but that is only a part of the argument, not the main point. D is wrong, because the question does not ask what the author is implying; this is unstated and therefore would be an implication, or argument assumption that is outside of the text. Also, it makes an "always" assertion which should be a red flag for you. E is true but not the main argument, its just a set of facts that the author uses.

The answer is C because it summarizes the author's argument succinctly. C also expresses the argument clearly, without jumping to extremes; using neutral language, this answer choice is the best pick.