Editorialist: The positions advanced by radical environmentalists

Question

Editorialist: The positions advanced by radical environmentalists often contain hypotheses that are false and proposals that are economically infeasible. But there is a positive role to be played even by these extremists, for the social and political inertia that attends environmental issues is so stubborn that even small areas of progress can be made only if the populace fears environmental disaster, however untenable the reasons for those fears may be.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the editorialist’s argument?

(A) The little progress that has been made in improving the environment is mainly due to the fear created by radical environmentalists.
(B) Radical environmentalists, by promoting their views, stimulate progress on environmental issues.
(C) Social and political inertia is most effectively overcome by an extremely fearful populace, regardless of whether its fears are well-founded.
(D) Radical environmentalists often put forth untenable positions in order to produce the fear that is required to bring about moderate reforms.
(E) Radical environmentalists advocate positions without regard for factual support or economic feasibility.

yash312 · Answer

IMO B

a,c,d,e are exteme choices and does not support the passage content fully

Rakeshtewatia · Answer

Is it B..?

C,D and E are out because they are too extreme and something not given in the argument. Between A and B, "A" is saying is mainly due to the fear... i think that too is also extreme. so i will go with "B". Please correct me if my reasoning is wrong.

philipssonicare · Answer

Editorialist: The positions advanced by radical environmentalists often contain hypotheses that are false and proposals that are economically infeasible. But there is a positive role to be played even by these extremists, for the social and political inertia that attends environmental issues is so stubborn that even small areas of progress can be made only if the populace fears environmental disaster, however untenable the reasons for those fears may be.

Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the editorialist’s argument?

(A)  The little progress that has been made in improving the environment is mainly due to the fear created by radical environmentalists. 
This is assuming too much. The piece doesn't say that little progress has been made. Additionally, 'even small...progress...made only...fear' allows other ways for fear to be generated (a mudslide destroying a town may elicit more fear than a guy with a placard).
Not great.
(B)  Radical environmentalists, by promoting their views, stimulate progress on environmental issues. 
This is better. Does the pieces discuss radical environmentalists? Yes, mentioned first sentence. Does it mention their views being promoted? Yes. It states they are factually inaccurate. Does it say those views create progress? Yes, small progress. This does not limit other forms of progress, other people having views etc. Non-extreme language.
 B 
(C)  Social and political inertia is most effectively overcome by an extremely fearful populace, regardless of whether its fears are well-founded. 
Most effectively causes a problem like it did in A. The piece only discusses environmental issues, not all areas that have social and political inertia. A real life example being gay marriage in the West, which may have been pushed more by positive messages than fears of gays being marginalised etc
 B 
(D)  Radical environmentalists often put forth untenable positions in order to produce the fear that is required to bring about moderate reforms. 
Has all the ideas from the piece but links them incorrectly. Untenable positions. Fear. Reform. But, as above, maybe they do it to promote positive aspects, not fear. "save the great barrier reef for the low low price of $10" doesn't elicit fear, but it is untenable.
 B 
(E)  Radical environmentalists advocate positions without regard for factual support or economic feasibility. 
'without regard' is the problem here. e.g. teach my friend some maths, after having read something about a formula, and still give wrong information. Tried to present a factually supported position, but made mistakes/don't know stuff etc
 B

sssanskaar · Answer

The portion in bold is the conclusion of the argument. Only  option B  is on the similar lines.

Crytiocanalyst · Answer

(A) The little progress that has been made in improving the environment is mainly due to the fear created by radical environmentalists.
This is subjective since the progress could be due to some other factors therefore we are not in a position to comment on the same -hence out

(B) Radical environmentalists, by promoting their views, stimulate progress on environmental issues.
This can be infered since their constant strikes has a possiblity of bringing in a change

(C) Social and political inertia is most effectively overcome by an extremely fearful populace, regardless of whether its fears are well-founded.
efeectiveness is a relative term and can have multiple implication on the given premise - hence out

(D) Radical environmentalists often put forth untenable positions in order to produce the fear that is required to bring about moderate reforms.
These are untenable cannot be infered and the moderate reforms is also completely subjective - hence out

(E) Radical environmentalists advocate positions without regard for factual support or economic feasibility.
This too is speculation and cannot be infered from the given subject -hence out 
Hence IMO B

VerbalBot · Answer

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Editorialist: The positions advanced by radical environmentalists

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Editorialist: The positions advanced by radical environmentalists

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