Critical Reasoning

State spokesperson: Many businesspeople who have not been to our state believe that we have an inadequate
road system. Those people are mistaken, as is obvious from the fact that in each of the past six years, our state
has spent more money per mile on road improvements than any other state.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the reasoning in the spokesperson’s argument?

(A) In the spokesperson’s state, spending on road improvements has been increasing more slowly over the past
six years than it has in several other states.
(B) Adequacy of a state’s road system is generally less important to a businessperson considering doing
business there than is the availability of qualified employees.
(C) Over the past six years, numerous businesses have business have moved into the state.
(D) In general, the number of miles of road in a state’ road system depends on both the area and the population
of the state.
(E) Only states with seriously inadequate road systems need to spend large amounts of money on road
improvements.

IMO E

We need to showcase that state has inadequate road system.

A) Other state is OOS.
B) We are not talking about doing businesses.
C) Business moving doesn't prove that state has an inadequate
road system.
D) Additional Information.

IMO E) proves that state has inadequate road system.

But the question states
'our state has spent more money per mile on road'...

It does not specify how much more it is when compared to other states... The other states too might be spending pretty close to what this state is spending, but marginally less... When the question does not say 'large', but only 'more', how can we pick E? The other states too might be spending 'large' amounts, but slightly less when compared to the state in discussion...


I picked D...
Because if the area and population of a state are the determinants, then when the state just says 'it is spending more' when compared to the other states, it might actually be not doing enough... perhaps its area and population are so large that it cannot be directly compared with the other states...


Kindly help.

IMO E

rseeker2 wrote:But the question states
'our state has spent more money per mile on road'...

It does not specify how much more it is when compared to other states... The other states too might be spending pretty close to what this state is spending, but marginally less... When the question does not say 'large', but only 'more', how can we pick E? The other states too might be spending 'large' amounts, but slightly less when compared to the state in discussion...


I picked D...
Because if the area and population of a state are the determinants, then when the state just says 'it is spending more' when compared to the other states, it might actually be not doing enough... perhaps its area and population are so large that it cannot be directly compared with the other states...


Kindly help.

First of all, we are not concerned about what other states are doing. The argument is concerned with why businesses are reluctant to establish themselves in Spokesperson's state.

Spokesperson says that state is spending large amounts to get the road system better. We need to attack the opposite effect, i.e. what if poor road system is the reason for chucking out huge sums of money. In that case, businesspeople would be right in saying that, "Hey, your roads were pathetic, that is why we are not in your state".

I am leaning more towards E, but I'm not sure about it.