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In 1846 about 80 percent of

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by agganitk » Tue Jul 06, 2010 8:15 am
In 1846 about 80 percent of the towns in New York State banned the sale of alcoholic beverages. A recent article about the bans concludes that mid-nineteenth-century supporters of the temperance movement were not residents of remote rural areas, as has often been asserted; rather, they were concentrated in centers of economic opportunity.

Which of the following, if true, best supports the conclusion reached in the article?

(A) After 1846 the temperance movement grew rapidly and it flourished until the turn of the century.

(B) Support for the ban on alcohol was strongest in New York towns where the economy was based on new, growing industries.

(C) Many young New York State farmers supported the ban on alcohol.

(D) The most adamant opponents of the ban included several affluent factory and mill owners.

(E) In New York City, which was a commercial center in 1846, the sale of alcoholic beverages was not banned.

Source 1000CR
OA B but why not E
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Source: — Critical Reasoning |

by hardik.jadeja » Tue Jul 06, 2010 3:53 pm
Premise: In 1846 about 80 percent of the towns in New York State banned the sale of alcoholic beverages.

Conclusion: Towns that supported the ban did not represent the remote rural areas. they were concentrated in centers of economic opportunity.

See the highlighted part above, option B confirms that the New York towns that supported the ban were in fact places where the economy was based on new, growing industries(in a way, centers of economic opportunity).

Look at E now. Instead of strengthening the argument, E weakens the argument. Option E says that commercial center in 1846 was New York City (not surrounding towns) and that the sale of alcoholic beverages was not banned in New York City - This is not inline with the conclusion, so it cannot strengthen the conclusion.

Hope that helps..
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