gdk800 wrote:Stimulus: From 1976 to 1973, total US consumption of cigarettes increased 3.4 %, and total sales of chewing tobacco rose 18%. During the same period, total US population increased 5.0 %.

Question: If the above statements are true, which of the following conclusions can be properly drawn?

OA is B

1) US manufacturers of tobacco products had higher profits in 1976 than in 1973.
We do not know the cost how can we talk about profit?

2) Per capita consumption of cigarettes in the US was lower in 1976 than in 1973.

3) The proportion of non-smokers in US population dropped slightly between 1973 and 1976.
We cannot say about non smokers. Regular smokers can vary the number of quantity of ciggs.

4) US manufacturers of tobacco products realize a lower profit on cigarettes than on chewing tobacco.
Again profit is out of discussion.

5) A large percentage of US smokers switched from cigarettes to chewing tobacco between 1973 and 1976.
quite possible any increase in tobacoo consumption is due to nonsmokers interest in tobacco. No guarantee of switching

Can be solved mathematically also ... Say

consumption of cigarettes in 1973 --> 1000 then in 1976 --> 1034
total sales of chewing tobacco in 1973 --> 1000 then in 1976 --> 1180
total US population in 1973 --> 100000 then in 1976 --> 105000

Per capita consumption cigarettes in 1973 = 1000/100000 = 0.0100
Per capita consumption cigarettes in 1976 = 1034/105000 = 0.0098
Per capita consumption tobacco in 1973 = 1000/100000 = 0.0100
Per capita consumption tobacco in 1976 = 1180/105000 = 0.0112

Thanks Shovan. I got the concept coz ur explanation was too good.

Question: Which of the following best completes the passage below?
At a recent conference on environmental threats to the Noah Sea, most participating countries favored uniform controls on the quality of effluents, whether or not specific environmental damage could be attributed to a particular source of effluent. What must, of course, be shown, in order to avoid excessively restrictive controls, is that _____________．
(A) Any uniform controls that are adopted are likely to be implemented without delay
(B) Any substance to be made subject to controls can actually cause environmental damage
(C) The countries favoring uniform controls are those generating the largest quantities of effluents
(D) All of any given pollutant that is to be controlled actually reaches the North Sea at present
(E) Environmental damage already inflicted on the North Sea is reversible


The answer to the above question is B. The doubt I have is if we read the second line of stimulus that says "whether or not specific environmental damage could be attributed to a particular source of effluent" than when a source of affluent affects or doesn't affects the environment, how can the answer be B? In comparison, D is a much better choice to pick. Please explain.

B it is...simble...