Would it be right for the government to abandon efforts to determine

Question

Would it be right for the government to abandon efforts to determine at what levels to allow toxic substances in our food supply? Only if it can reasonably be argued that the only acceptable level of toxic substances in food is zero. However, virtually all foods contain perfectly natural substances that are toxic but cause no harm because they do not occur in food in toxic concentrations. Furthermore, we can never be certain of having reduced the concentration of any substance to zero; all we can ever know is that it has been reduced to below the threshold of detection of current analytical methods.

The main conclusion of the argument is that

(A) the government should continue trying to determine acceptable levels for toxic substances in our food supply
(B) the only acceptable level of toxic substances in food is zero
(C) naturally occurring toxic substances in food present little danger because they rarely occur in toxic concentrations
(D) the government will never be able to determine with certainty that a food contains no toxic substances
(E) the government needs to refine its methods of detecting toxic substances in our food supply

psychomath · Answer

I think it should be A....The first two lines say it all.....
"Would it be right for the government to abandon efforts to determine at what levels to allow toxic substances in our food supply? Only if it can reasonably be argued that the only acceptable level of toxic substances in food is zero."

whiplash2411 · Answer

Read the first sentence. It says: Would it be right for the government to abandon efforts to determine at what levels to allow toxic substances in our food supply?

This translates to: "Should the government stop toxic tests?"

Let's look at what the rest of the para says.

1. ONLY if the acceptable level is zero. 
2. But all foods contain some natural toxic substances, just not in that concentration
3. We can never be sure about reducing the level to zero, it's just not detectable.

From the three points above it follows logically that the government should continue testing. This would be your answer to the question that's presented as the first thing in the paragraph and hence the answer would be choice A.

whiplash2411 · Answer

Look at what the stimulus paragraph is leading towards. The main argument of the paragraph is the question of whether the government should stop testing, not the fact that the toxic chemicals occur in low concentrations.

You need to be careful with answer choices that are true but are not the MAIN point of the paragraph. In this case, option C might be a valid statement, but it's not the central idea in the stimulus.

gurpreetsingh · Answer

In 95% of the Conclusion questions, the answer choices having premise restated are always wrong.

While doing the main point questions or conclusion questions, just remember 2 things to check.
1. The answer choice is true and within the scope.
2. Think critically why the hell the author is wasting my time in explaining the facts and arguments. The answer choice that will give you the answer of your above question is correct.

Premise :"However, virtually all foods contain perfectly natural substances that are toxic but cause no harm because they do not occur in food in toxic concentrations."

Answer choice"(C) naturally occurring toxic substances in food present little danger because they rarely occur in toxic concentrations"

Both the statements are same. Does the author wants to convey you this only? No, he does not.

nonameee · Answer

Can someone please explain why not (D) or (E)?

nonameee · Answer

I think I got it. I didn't read the first sentence carefully. The first sentence is the key to answering the question.

tuanquang269 · Answer

I agree A. I also get wrong when reading uncritically and choose C

gauravsaggis1 · Answer

A for me too.

clearly answering the question asked in first line and concluding the argument.
rest are just stating what has already been mentioned in argument.

jaibsingh · Answer

Why is “d” not the answer.?

Posted from my mobile device

Shikshamishraaaa · Answer

Well if you look at the paragraph , there is a question in the beginning. Option A gives answer to that question.

Would it be right for the government to abandon efforts to determine

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Would it be right for the government to abandon efforts to determine

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