Q.4-
Since the passage of the state's Clear Air Act ten years ago, the level of industrial pollutants in the air has fallen by an average of 18 percent. This suggests that the rule restrictions on industry embodied in the act have worked effectively. However, during the same period the state has also suffered through a period of economic decline. The number of businesses in the state has fallen by 10 percent, and the number of workers employed has fallen by 12 percent. It is probable that business decline, rather than regulations in the act, is responsible for at least half of the decline in the pollution.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the conclusion drawn in the passage above?
a) Due to its small budget, the state office charged with enforcement of the Clean Air Act has prosecuted only two violators of the law since its passage.
b) Amendments to the Clean Air Act that were enacted six years ago have substantially strengthened its restrictions on industrial air pollution.
c) Several large corporations left the state during the last ten years partly in order to avoid compliance with Clean Air Act.
d) During the last ten year, economic conditions in the nation as a whole have been worse than those with in state.
e) Of the businesses that ceased operating in the state during the last ten years, only 5 percent were engaged in air-polluting industries.
Since the passage of the state's Clear Air Act ten years ago, the level of industrial pollutants in the air has fallen by an average of 18 percent. This suggests that the rule restrictions on industry embodied in the act have worked effectively. However, during the same period the state has also suffered through a period of economic decline. The number of businesses in the state has fallen by 10 percent, and the number of workers employed has fallen by 12 percent. It is probable that business decline, rather than regulations in the act, is responsible for at least half of the decline in the pollution.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the conclusion drawn in the passage above?
a) Due to its small budget, the state office charged with enforcement of the Clean Air Act has prosecuted only two violators of the law since its passage.
b) Amendments to the Clean Air Act that were enacted six years ago have substantially strengthened its restrictions on industrial air pollution.
c) Several large corporations left the state during the last ten years partly in order to avoid compliance with Clean Air Act.
d) During the last ten year, economic conditions in the nation as a whole have been worse than those with in state.
e) Of the businesses that ceased operating in the state during the last ten years, only 5 percent were engaged in air-polluting industries.
