Identifying the conclusion in CR problems

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Identifying the conclusion in CR problems

by dhonu121 » Tue May 29, 2012 11:02 am
More and more companies have begun to consume less energy by making themselves more efficient. Over time,
these efforts could place the United States at the forefront of an emerging global market for cleaner technologies.
Such efforts are also essential to tackling the two big energy-related issues of the age: global warming and the
dependence on precarious supplies of oil. The federal government should encourage these efforts by providing the
necessary incentives, whether as loans, direct grants or targeted tax breaks. Which of the following, if true,
provides the most effective support for the argument?
"¢ On the average, Canadian companies are more energy efficient than those in the United States.
"¢ Experts believe that energy efficiency could lower the energy use of the United States to the level of 1995.
"¢ In the past, government incentives have made advances in energy conservation feasible, especially in the auto
industry.
"¢ The dependence on foreign oil is a greater problem in the present than global warming.
"¢ The market for cleaner technologies is currently relatively small because of the infrastructure requirements.

OA:C

I am fine as far as OA is concerned.
I need some help here in identifying the conclusion.
I am not able to decide in such lengthy CR's that what exactly is the conclusion.
Here I feel that Over time,
these efforts could place the United States at the forefront of an emerging global market for cleaner technologies.
is the conclusion just on the basis of feel that this sentence conveys.
It says something about the future and looks like a prediction or a conclusion.
But I am also confused that The federal government should encourage these efforts by providing the
necessary incentives, whether as loans, direct grants or targeted tax breaks.
might be the conclusion as well, however the world should is making me skeptical about considering this as a conclusion.

Can anybody help me here as well as in general in figuring out how to find the conclusion in such lengthy problems.

Thanks.
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by Birottam Dutta » Wed May 30, 2012 5:34 am
In this case, "over time, these efforts could place US at the forefront...." is the conclusion drawn by the author.

This is followed by an explanation as to why it is required. Finally, the author elaborates a factor which is required for achieving this goal. And the question asks you to find the option which best supports the assertion that the government incentives, etc are necessary.

I guess we need an expert to tell us whether there are any rules for finding the conclusion. However, understanding of the passage and the question will in most cases help you to identify the conclusion, premise, etc.

That's the rule I follow!!

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by chetansharma » Wed May 30, 2012 8:35 am
HI,

I second the thought presented by Birottam. Apart from "over time, these efforts could place US at the forefront....", other sentences are explaining the importance of energy efficiency methods of the companies or How the govt shd help those companies. Also the first statement make a point which can be verifiable making it a premise.

Also, I guess there might not be any specific rules such as keywords which can help to identify the conclusion is stimulus such as these.

Regards,
Chetan Sharma
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by ice_rush » Wed May 30, 2012 8:46 am
The conclusion is: The federal government should encourage these efforts by providing the
necessary incentives, whether as loans, direct grants or targeted tax breaks


notice how choice (C) is strengthening the conclusion.


hope this helps.