OG 10 Foreign exchange reserves

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OG 10 Foreign exchange reserves

by mundasingh123 » Fri Aug 05, 2011 7:22 am
Country Y uses its scarce foreign-exchange reserves to buy scrap iron for recycling into steel. Although the
steel thus produced earns more foreign exchange than it costs, that policy is foolish. Country Y's own
territory has vast deposits of iron ore, which can be mined with minimal expenditure of foreign exchange.
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest support for Country Y's policy of buying scrap iron
abroad?
(A) The price of scrap iron on international markets rose significantly in 1987.
(B) Country Y's foreign-exchange reserves dropped significantly in 1987.
(C) There is virtually no difference in quality between steel produced from scrap iron and that produced from
iron ore.
(D) Scrap iron is now used in the production of roughly half the steel used in the world today, and experts
predict that scrap iron will be used even more extensively in the future.
(E) Furnaces that process scrap iron can be built and operated in Country Y with substantially less foreign
exchange than can furnaces that process iron ore.

Conclusion : This policy is foolish
B says Foreign exchange reserves dwindled in 1987
Doesn't this information along with the information in the stimulus lend credence to the conclusion that the policy is foolish
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by sunnyjohn » Fri Aug 05, 2011 7:32 am
Hi Mundasingh123,

I think you misread the Question, which is asking for support the policy, not to prove that policy is foolish.

F1: Buying scrap has cyclic effect. It generate more money than it utilizes.
F2: Country Y, can mine iron ore much more cheaply than buying iron scrap.

Support F1.
[spoiler]
Option E clearly states that processing of iron ore is more expensive so may be that's the reason why country Y should continue to buy scrap.[/spoiler]

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by mundasingh123 » Fri Aug 05, 2011 7:47 am
sunnyjohn wrote:Hi Mundasingh123,

I think you misread the Question, which is asking for support the policy, not to prove that policy is foolish.

F1: Buying scrap has cyclic effect. It generate more money than it utilizes.
F2: Country Y, can mine iron ore much more cheaply than buying iron scrap.

Support F1.
[spoiler]
Option E clearly states that processing of iron ore is more expensive so may be that's the reason why country Y should continue to buy scrap.[/spoiler]
Nice ! Thanks for reading my question .
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by coderversion1 » Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:36 am
Clearly E.