Critical Reasoning

The following is an excerpt from a campaign speech.

Senator Baker: My opponent, Candidate Rothmore, has called for increased taxes to fund programs that help the long-term unemployed of the state. Such action would address an immediate symptom for a select group, without doing much to address the overall problems we all face. Only through lowering taxes can we stimulate the growth of small businesses, which will revitalize the state's whole economy. That, in turn, will result in greater prosperity and in more jobs, including jobs for those who have been unemployed for a while. Through lowering taxes, everyone wins, and those currently unemployed get the best help the economy can provide --- a real job.
In the argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A. The first is a prediction about a recommendation the main argument opposes; the second is a conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion.

B. The first is evidence supporting the main argument; the second is the main conclusion.

C. The first is a prediction that, if accurate, would provide support for the main conclusion of the argument; the second is the main conclusion.

D. The first is an objection that the main argument rejects; the second is a claim advanced in support of the main conclusions of the argument.

E. The first is a conclusion drawn by Senator Baker's opponent; the second is Senator Baker's main conclusion.

Source: Magoosh

OA: A


Although choice D is incorrect, I have doubt whether the interpretation of statement 2 in Choice Dis Correct!!!

Mo2men wrote:The following is an excerpt from a campaign speech.

Senator Baker: My opponent, Candidate Rothmore, has called for increased taxes to fund programs that help the long-term unemployed of the state. Such action would address an immediate symptom for a select group, without doing much to address the overall problems we all face. Only through lowering taxes can we stimulate the growth of small businesses, which will revitalize the state's whole economy. That, in turn, will result in greater prosperity and in more jobs, including jobs for those who have been unemployed for a while. Through lowering taxes, everyone wins, and those currently unemployed get the best help the economy can provide --- a real job.
In the argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A. The first is a prediction about a recommendation the main argument opposes; the second is a conclusion drawn in order to support the main conclusion.

B. The first is evidence supporting the main argument; the second is the main conclusion.

C. The first is a prediction that, if accurate, would provide support for the main conclusion of the argument; the second is the main conclusion.

D. The first is an objection that the main argument rejects; the second is a claim advanced in support of the main conclusions of the argument.

E. The first is a conclusion drawn by Senator Baker's opponent; the second is Senator Baker's main conclusion.

Source: Magoosh

OA: A


Although choice D is incorrect, I have doubt whether the interpretation of statement 2 in Choice Dis Correct!!!

D's analysis of the second bold component looks okay to me. The main conclusion is that lowering taxes will stimulate the growth of small businesses/revitalize the economy. We then get a claim that there be greater prosperity/more jobs, and this claim supports the conclusion. The problem with D is its analysis of the first bold point. First, it's more of a prediction than an objection. More importantly, the main argument doesn't reject the prediction that increased taxes will merely address a symptom. It rejects the very notion of a tax increase.