Critical Reasoning

Exports of United States wood pulp will rise consid-
erably during this year. The reason for the rise is
that the falling value of the dollar will make it
cheaper for paper manufacturers in Japan and West-
ern Europe to buy American wood pulp than to get
it from any other source.

Which of the following is an assumption made in
drawing the conclusion above?
(A) Factory output of paper products in Japan and
Western Europe will increase sharply during
this year.
(B) The quality of the wood pulp produced in the
United States would be adequate for the
purposes of Japanese and Western European
paper manufacturers.
(C) Paper manufacturers in Japan and Western
Europe would prefer to use wood pulp
produced in the United States if cost were
not a factor.
(D) Demand for paper products made in Japan and
Western Europe will not increase sharply
during this year.
(E) Production of wood pulp by United States
companies will not increase sharply during
this year.

It should be B.
If quality is good and adequate for japenese,they wont buy from other source

I chose C..

C shows that Japan wud prefer the american pulp given that is cheaper....

and in the arguement it is shown that it will be cheaper...

this completes the arguement for me..

i know the answer is B but i m not convinced..

can someone plz help in explaining why C is wrong

hopefully wrote:I chose C..

C shows that Japan wud prefer the american pulp given that is cheaper....

and in the arguement it is shown that it will be cheaper...

this completes the arguement for me..

i know the answer is B but i m not convinced..

can someone plz help in explaining why C is wrong

C is incorrect because the last portion of the sentence is the opposite of what you have mentioned:

(C) Paper manufacturers in Japan and Western
Europe would prefer to use wood pulp
produced in the United States if cost were
not a factor.

If costs were not a factor then Japan and Western Europe would buy American pulp regardless of the falling value of the dollar. This is in direct contrast with the premise of the argument.

I know i m missing something silly but i m still not clear ...

(C) Paper manufacturers in Japan and Western
Europe would prefer to use wood pulp
produced in the United States if cost were
not a factor.


Does this not mean that japan n europe do not prefer american pulp bcoz cost is a factor.

And now that cost is cheaper they will use it.

Help Help

hopefully wrote:I know i m missing something silly but i m still not clear ...

(C) Paper manufacturers in Japan and Western
Europe would prefer to use wood pulp
produced in the United States if cost were
not a factor.


Does this not mean that japan n europe do not prefer american pulp bcoz cost is a factor.

And now that cost is cheaper they will use it.

Help Help

Break it down into two parts: 1) for the effect 2) for the condition that will provide the effect.

1) Paper manufacturers in Japan and Western
Europe would prefer to use wood pulp
produced in the United States

--> This indicates those countries would like to use American wood pulp; this statement alone would STRENGTHEN the argument because it is an assumption (if they did not prefer American wood why would they want to buy it?)

2) if cost were not a factor

--> This is what makes C incorrect; this condition qualifies (1) by stating they prefer this wood if costs were not a factor; in other words, they would prefer to use American wood pulp if it costs $1 per lb or even if it costs $100,000 per lb. Costs do not matter - they want their American wood pulp and they want it now!

--> Why does this make C wrong? Because the premise/support of the conclusion is that the rise in exports is due to a decrease in costs:

"The reason for the rise is that the falling value of the dollar will make it
cheaper for paper manufacturers in Japan and Western Europe to buy American wood pulp"

But the two parts (1 and 2) of C together indicate the costs do not matter at all therefore nullifying the premise/support given by the argument. Thus C actually weakens the argument by showing that the premise is not true.

got it ..
thanks

hopefully wrote:got it ..
thanks

OA is B. Thanks for the discussion as I also selected C

B is the most suitable one here