For 50 successive weeks, the rate of inflation has been under 5%

Question

For 50 successive weeks, the rate of inflation has been under 5%. This is the longest period of low inflation since the mid-seventies. The Finance Minister was quick to claim that the fiscal and monetary policies of his government were solely responsible for bringing inflation under control.

Which of the following, if true, casts serious doubt on the Finance Minister's assertion?
 
A. Consumers still feel that prices are rising, especially in the cities.

B.International oil prices, which are a major component of the inflation index, have been very low over the past 50 weeks.

C. Inflation is a phenomenon caused by a complex interaction of numerous factors, some of them beyond the control of the finance minister.

D. The consumer price index fluctuates from week to week.

E. The Finance Ministry has the power to control inflation.

Shadyshades · Answer

Conclusion- Fiscal and monetary policies were solely responsible for keeping inflation under control.

A.  Consumers still feel that prices are rising, especially in the cities. - What consumers feel will not add any value to the conclusion

B. International oil prices, which are a major component of the inflation index, have been very low over the past 50 weeks .- Spot ON ( The other reason why inflation is under control)

C.  Inflation is a phenomenon caused by a complex interaction of numerous factors, some of them beyond the control of the finance minister .- 
The factors beyond the control may not be the important to control the inflation.

D.  The consumer price index fluctuates from week to week .- Irrelevant

E.  The Finance Ministry has the power to control inflation .-If anything, it only strengthens the argument

mbanowornever · Answer

When we have to find the weakness of arguments/conclusion where it claims that and event X caused event Y, the best way is to find any other event that could have influenced the outcome.

Option B gives the best alternative explanation, while Option C is a close contender, it is vague when compared to B.

shuklaji · Answer

Sajjad1994  Hello Can you please explain why option C is wrong. Thou I got the right answer but was not able to elimate C properly

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

This is very typical and straight forward CR question. You just need to concentrate on the conclusion and then attack on the conclusion. Let's read the stimulus.

For 50 successive weeks, the rate of inflation has been under 5%. This is the longest period of low inflation since the mid-seventies. The Finance Minister was quick to claim that the fiscal and monetary policies of his government were solely responsible for bringing inflation under control.

Conclusion:   Fiscal and monetary policies are the only handlers of inflation.

Attack the conclusion:   We need something which states that Fiscal and monetary policies are not the key points behind the inflation rate.

Read the answer choices:

A. Consumers still feel that prices are rising, especially in the cities. 
Outside information - didn't weaken the conclusion.

B. International oil prices, which are a major component of the inflation index, have been very low over the past 50 weeks. 
This option directly attacks the conclusion by saying that the Fiscal and monetary policies are not the factors deciding the inflation rate

C. Inflation is a phenomenon caused by a complex interaction of numerous factors, some of them beyond the control of the finance minister. 
This is trap answer, It discussion that finance minister is laying, But actually it is not weakening his/her claim. It is attacking on the finance minister's personal capacity of work which is not discussed in the stimulus. We need logics and not the feelings.

D. The consumer price index fluctuates from week to week. 
Out of context

E. The Finance Ministry has the power to control inflation. 
This is opposite, it actually strengthening the conclusion by saying that the finance minister has powers to do so and hence he/she is correct.

Answer: B

Paras96 · Answer

B. International oil prices, which are a major component of the inflation index, have been very low over the past 50 weeks.

This option suggests that external factors (low international oil prices) have played a significant role in keeping inflation low. It implies that the government's policies may not be the sole reason for the low inflation. This casts doubt on the Finance Minister's assertion.

Vikash5912 · Answer

A,E, D is irrelevant

b is best option which directly attack on conclusion

Ami0Trafalgar · Answer

But then again in some questions making such an assumption will be wrong.
How to distinguish when and to what degree can we make such assumptions without marking the incorrect answer?

VerbalBot · Answer

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For 50 successive weeks, the rate of inflation has been under 5%

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For 50 successive weeks, the rate of inflation has been under 5%

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