Critical Reasoning

Scientist: There is a finite amount of helium, which is a key component of MRI magnets, in the world. Because the supply is not renewable, it is frivolous to waste this precious resource on such products as party balloons. Instead, we should use other gases, such as hydrogen, to fill balloons, and the price of helium should be raised significantly to make it prohibitive for such trivial purposes.

Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest support for the suggestion that the price of helium should be raised?

A) Other medical imaging tests exist that do not require helium to function.

B) Hydrogen is at least as plentiful as helium, and is not a finite resource.

C) The cost of the helium used for medical purposes is already significantly higher than helium sold on the open market.

D) A survey of patients has shown that they do not mind paying slightly more for services if doing so helps the environment.

E) 80% of people who purchase gases for party balloons cite the price of helium as one of their top three considerations in choosing it.

When it's already mentioned that price will prohibitively high, why is there need of E as a strengthener? D could better if there is no "so helps the environment" part.

aji12 wrote:Scientist: There is a finite amount of helium, which is a key component of MRI magnets, in the world. Because the supply is not renewable, it is frivolous to waste this precious resource on such products as party balloons. Instead, we should use other gases, such as hydrogen, to fill balloons, and the price of helium should be raised significantly to make it prohibitive for such trivial purposes.

Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest support for the suggestion that the price of helium should be raised?

A) Other medical imaging tests exist that do not require helium to function.

B) Hydrogen is at least as plentiful as helium, and is not a finite resource.

C) The cost of the helium used for medical purposes is already significantly higher than helium sold on the open market.

D) A survey of patients has shown that they do not mind paying slightly more for services if doing so helps the environment.

E) 80% of people who purchase gases for party balloons cite the price of helium as one of their top three considerations in choosing it.

When it's already mentioned that price will prohibitively high, why is there need of E as a strengthener? D could better if there is no "so helps the environment" part.

The goal, ultimately, is to get average consumers to purchase less Helium by making Helium more expensive. Well, that plan is going to work best if consumers care about the price of the Helium, right? If consumers weren't buying Helium because it was cheap, but rather, because it possessed a rare property that other gases did not possess, then raising the price might not have the desired impact, as consumers might be willing to pay a premium to get their beloved Helium. But if they care most about price, they'll simply select a cheaper alternative if the price of Helium is raised. This is what E is going for.

D is irrelevant. The goal is to get average consumers to buy less Helium by making it more expensive, not to sell services to patients. (Notice that there's no mention of Helium or gasses or even MRI's in this answer choice. A good clue that it's outside the scope of the argument.)