Economist: The price of tap water in our region should be raised drastically. Supplies in local freshwater reservoirs have been declining for years because water is being used faster than it can be replenished. Since the price of tap water has been low, few users have bothered to adopt even easy conservation measure.
The two sections in boldface play which of the following roles in the economist's argument?
(A) The first is a conclusion for which support is provided, and which in turn supports the main conclusion; the second is the main conclusion.
(B) The first is an observation for which the second provides an explanation; the second is the main conclusion but not the only conclusion.
(C) The first is a premise supporting the argument's main conclusion; so is the second.
(D) The first is the only conclusion; the second provides an explanation for the first.
(E) The first is the main conclusion; the second is a conclusion for which support is provided, and which in turn supports the first.
OA: C
Can anyone please explain why E is wrong? Thank you.
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OG 2018 CR Q Economist: The price of
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The first step in questions such as this one is to identify the main conclusion of the argument. It is common that there are multiple conclusions in boldface questions. Here are some tips to find the main conclusion.
First, look for modal verbs. Verbs such as must, should, will, etc., often accompany a conclusion.
Second, think about the author's intention. What is it that the author wants you to think after reading his argument?
Finally, the why? test. If you have identified the conclusion, you should be able to ask the question why? and use the rest of the argument to answer.
In this case, the author wants us to believe that the price of tap water in our region should be raised drastically. Why? Because supplies in local freshwater reservoirs have been declining for years and because few users have bothered to adopt even easy conservation measures.
The value of the why? test extends not only to finding the conclusion but also to identifying the premises. Since both of the boldface portions answer the question why, both are premises.
What's wrong with (E)? It erroneously claims that the first boldfaced claim is the main conclusion. Yet the first boldfaced part supports another part of the argument. Accordingly, it cannot be the main conclusion.
First, look for modal verbs. Verbs such as must, should, will, etc., often accompany a conclusion.
Second, think about the author's intention. What is it that the author wants you to think after reading his argument?
Finally, the why? test. If you have identified the conclusion, you should be able to ask the question why? and use the rest of the argument to answer.
In this case, the author wants us to believe that the price of tap water in our region should be raised drastically. Why? Because supplies in local freshwater reservoirs have been declining for years and because few users have bothered to adopt even easy conservation measures.
The value of the why? test extends not only to finding the conclusion but also to identifying the premises. Since both of the boldface portions answer the question why, both are premises.
What's wrong with (E)? It erroneously claims that the first boldfaced claim is the main conclusion. Yet the first boldfaced part supports another part of the argument. Accordingly, it cannot be the main conclusion.
Elias Latour
Verbal Specialist @ ApexGMAT
blog.apexgmat.com
+1 (646) 736-7622
Verbal Specialist @ ApexGMAT
blog.apexgmat.com
+1 (646) 736-7622
