Official Solution:


City Official: A year ago, we increased the fine for parking tickets from $50 to $60. Over the course of the year, the number of parking tickets issued in the city fell by 10%. Clearly, [b]the higher fine resulted in fewer people parking illegally.

Resident: You are incorrect. For one thing, there were fewer major sporting events in the city this year, so the overall number of people parking in the city was much less. Secondly, parking enforcement staff have stated that they deliberately issued fewer parking tickets this year.

The two portions of the passage in boldface play which of the following roles?
[/b]

A. The first is evidence used by the city official in reaching his conclusion; the second is evidence presented by the resident that gives reason to question the city official’s conclusion
B. The first is evidence used by the city official in reaching his conclusion; the second is the main conclusion of the resident
C. The first is the conclusion of the city official; the second is the main conclusion of the resident
D. The first is the conclusion of the city official; the second is evidence presented by the resident that gives reason to question the city official’s conclusion
E. The first is a conclusion of the city official that the resident calls into question; the second is a questionable contention that the resident supports with additional evidence


(A) The first boldfaced portion is the conclusion of the city official, not evidence. The second is evidence presented by the resident that undermines that conclusion.

(B) The first boldfaced portion is the conclusion of the city official, not evidence. The second is evidence presented by the resident, not his conclusion. The resident’s conclusion is that the city official is incorrect.

(C) The first boldfaced portion is the conclusion of the city official, but the second is evidence presented by the resident.

(D) Correct. This answer choice correctly states the function of both boldface portions.

(E) The first is a conclusion of the city official that the resident calls into question, but the second is evidence presented by the resident.


Answer: D
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Because 'E' says that the second is a questionable contention that the resident supports with additional evidence. The second statement is not an argument that is given along with the evidence. Since the second statement is the evidence given by the residents, option 'D' is the correct answer.