In opposing the 1970 Clean Air Act, the United States automobile indus

Question

In opposing the 1970 Clean Air Act, the United States
automobile industry argued that meeting the act’s
standards for automobile emissions was neither
economically feasible nor environmentally necessary.
However, the catalytic converter, invented in 1967, enabled
automakers to meet the 1970 standards efficiently.
Currently, automakers are lobbying against the
government’s attempt to pass legislation that would
tighten restrictions on automobile emissions. The
automakers contend that these new restrictions would be
overly expensive and unnecessary to efforts to curb air
pollution. Clearly, the automobile industry’s position
should not be heeded.

Which one of the following, if true, lends the most
support to the automakers’ current position?
(A) The more stringent the legislation restricting
emissions becomes, the more difficult it
becomes for automakers to provide the
required technology economically.
The Correct Answer since imposing the new legistation will lead to rise in the prices
(B) Emissions-restriction technology can often be
engineered so as to avoid reducing the
efficiency with which an automobile uses fuel.
This weakens the position of the automaker as this point suggest that the technology can be easily engineered.
(C) Not every new piece of legislation restricting
emissions requires new automotive technology
in order for automakers to comply with it.
no impact
(D) The more automobiles there are on the road,
the more stringent emission restrictions must
be to prevent increased overall air pollution.
This weakens the position of the automaker
(E) Unless forced to do so by the government,
automakers rarely make changes in automotive
technology that is not related to profitability.
No impact

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The automakers’ position is that the new restrictions are too expensive. So anything that increases costs would support the automakers’ position. Look at choice (A). It states that the more stringent the emissions standards become the more expensive the technology becomes. This is precisely the automakers’ position.  The answer is (A).

abhishekdadarwal2009 · Answer

In opposing the 1970 Clean Air Act, the United States
automobile industry argued that meeting the act’s
standards for automobile emissions was neither
economically feasible nor environmentally necessary.
However, the catalytic converter, invented in 1967, enabled
automakers to meet the 1970 standards efficiently.
Currently, automakers are lobbying against the
government’s attempt to pass legislation that would
tighten restrictions on automobile emissions. The
automakers contend that these new restrictions would be
overly expensive and unnecessary to efforts to curb air
pollution. Clearly, the automobile industry’s position
should not be heeded.

Which one of the following, if true, lends the most
support to the automakers’ current position?
 (A) The more stringent the legislation restricting
emissions becomes, the more difficult it
becomes for automakers to provide the
required technology economically.
The Correct Answer since imposing the new legistation will lead to rise in the prices 
 (B) Emissions-restriction technology can often be
engineered so as to avoid reducing the
efficiency with which an automobile uses fuel.
This weakens the position of the automaker as this point suggest that the technology can be easily engineered. 
 (C) Not every new piece of legislation restricting
emissions requires new automotive technology
in order for automakers to comply with it.
no impact 
 (D) The more automobiles there are on the road,
the more stringent emission restrictions must
be to prevent increased overall air pollution.
This weakens the position of the automaker 
 (E) Unless forced to do so by the government,
automakers rarely make changes in automotive
technology that is not related to profitability.
No impact

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

Simplify the argument -

1970 
New Standards --> 1. Not necessary 2. Not economically viable.

However,
Catalytic Converters --> Made following standards economically viable.

Now 
New Standards --> 1. Not necessary 2. Not economically viable.

We need to strengthen the above argument.

Option A - Correct.
More stringent regulations --> less economical. Strengthens the argument above.

Option B - Incorrect.
If it does not reduce efficiency, then the conclusion "not economically viable" falls apart. Weakens the argumeent.

Option C - Incorrect.
We are not sure whether this legislation requires new technology or not. Moreover, we do not know what impact this new technology will have. If it makes it more economical, then the author's argument is weakened.
If it does not require, then probably companies can achieve low emissions with something already existing and cheap.

Option D - Incorrect.
We do not know whether the actual numbers of automobiles increased on the roads from 1970s or not. 
Anyways, this is not relevant as we are not interested in such conditionals. We already know that the government HAS made the regulations more stringent. We are asked to evaluate the impact.

Option E - Incorrect.
We are not interested in other cases where the government does not make following the regulations mandatory.
We are interested in this specific case in which the government has made the regulations more strict.

VerbalBot · Answer

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In opposing the 1970 Clean Air Act, the United States automobile indus

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