During the past three years of its present administration,

Question

During the past three years of its present administration, Country M's foreign trade account shows a surplus of three million U.S. dollars. The foreign trade account weights the value of products exported against the value of products imported. A surplus shows a greater value of exports than imports. Since during the previous administration of Country M the foreign trade account showed an average surplus of 4.5 million U.S dollars, we can safely conclude the policies of Country M's present administration have led to few exports.

Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument above?

A) Over the last three years Country M's economy has grown steadily
B) Domestic sale of products made in Country M has risen steadily over the last three years
C) The present administration of Country M has raised the tariffs on some imported goods
D) The value per item of Country M's imports has risen gradually over the last three years
E) In the past three years, the value of Country M's imports has tripled.

riteshgupta1 · Answer

Looks E to me.

A - No effect of economy
B - domestic sales, we need imports and exports data
c - If they have raised the terrifs, so what?? No information is there to support whether imports or exports have been affected.
D - Value of items have gone up, how about quantity...
E - It says the imports have trippled, so exports have gone up to, otherwise, there should be much bigger gap, which did not happen.

So E weakens the arguments.

HIMALAYA · Answer

clear E.

kwasi7 · Answer

E for me too.

Riteshgupta, i like the way you put it "how about quantity"?

gotoknow3 · Answer

one more E

ranga41 · Answer

IMO clearly  E , the bolded part shows the conclusion but if imports tripled to have 3million more in exports the export should have become more not few.

During the past three years of its present administration, Country M's foreign trade account shows a surplus of three million U.S. dollars. The foreign trade account weights the value of products exported against the value of products imported. A surplus shows a greater value of exports than imports. Since during the previous administration of Country M the foreign trade account showed an average surplus of 4.5 million U.S dollars,  we can safely conclude the policies of Country M's present administration have led to few exports .

gmataquaguy · Answer

OA is E.

During the past three years of its present administration,

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