Critical Reasoning

Unprecedented industrial growth in the country of Remo has created serious environmental problems because factories there lack adequate pollution-control systems. Remo is developing a clean growth plan that includes environmental regulations that will require the installation of such systems. Since no companies in Remo currently produce pollution-control systems, the plan, if implemented, will create significant opportunities for foreign exporters to market pollution-control systems.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

A.The clean growth plan will provide tax incentives for local businesses to develop and manufacture pollution-control devices.

B.Foreign exporters would provide factory-trained technicians to maintain the pollution-control systems sold to Remo.

C.Industrial lobbyists sponsored by local businesses in Remo are trying to prevent the implementation of the government regulations.

D.The regulations that Remo plans to implement are much less strict than those in neighboring nations.

E.Pollution in Remo has caused serious health problems for workers, contributing to a significant increase in the number of workdays lost to illness.

IMO A

The clean growth plan will provide tax incentives for local businesses to develop and manufacture pollution-control devices.

If the plan suits well for manufacturers in terms of tax-incentives, they will be keen to develop pollution control systems themselves rather than exporting these systems from foreign exporters.

Conclusion: new plan implemented-> create significant opportunities for foreign exporters to market pollution-control systems

A.The clean growth plan will provide tax incentives for local businesses to develop and manufacture pollution-control devices.

Clearly weakens the argument (analagous to alternate cause for the sated effect). This would mean that significant opportunities for foreign exporters may not exist since local companies may provide the needful

B.Foreign exporters would provide factory-trained technicians to maintain the pollution-control systems sold to Remo.

So what this would mean foreign exporters are getting significant oppurtunities which would strengthen the argument definitely not weaken

C.Industrial lobbyists sponsored by local businesses in Remo are trying to prevent the implementation of the government regulations.

Good luck to them.. still doesnt address or weakens the conclusion significant opportunities for foreign exporters exists

D.The regulations that Remo plans to implement are much less strict than those in neighboring nations.

ok.. Good to know but really out of scope

E.Pollution in Remo has caused serious health problems for workers, contributing to a significant increase in the number of workdays lost to illness.

That's sad...but it does nothing to weaken the argument i.e. does not show that significant opportunities for foreign exporters does not exist

Hands down A

aj5105 wrote:Unprecedented industrial growth in the country of Remo has created serious environmental problems because factories there lack adequate pollution-control systems. Remo is developing a clean growth plan that includes environmental regulations that will require the installation of such systems. Since no companies in Remo currently produce pollution-control systems, the plan, if implemented, will create significant opportunities for foreign exporters to market pollution-control systems.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

A.The clean growth plan will provide tax incentives for local businesses to develop and manufacture pollution-control devices.

B.Foreign exporters would provide factory-trained technicians to maintain the pollution-control systems sold to Remo.

C.Industrial lobbyists sponsored by local businesses in Remo are trying to prevent the implementation of the government regulations.

D.The regulations that Remo plans to implement are much less strict than those in neighboring nations.

E.Pollution in Remo has caused serious health problems for workers, contributing to a significant increase in the number of workdays lost to illness.

IMO definitely A.

We can use POE to get down to choose between A and C since they are two possible sensible choices. But A seems to negate it seriously and contents of C are not necessarily included in the argument.

amazonviper wrote:

aj5105 wrote:Unprecedented industrial growth in the country of Remo has created serious environmental problems because factories there lack adequate pollution-control systems. Remo is developing a clean growth plan that includes environmental regulations that will require the installation of such systems. Since no companies in Remo currently produce pollution-control systems, the plan, if implemented, will create significant opportunities for foreign exporters to market pollution-control systems.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

A.The clean growth plan will provide tax incentives for local businesses to develop and manufacture pollution-control devices.

B.Foreign exporters would provide factory-trained technicians to maintain the pollution-control systems sold to Remo.

C.Industrial lobbyists sponsored by local businesses in Remo are trying to prevent the implementation of the government regulations.

D.The regulations that Remo plans to implement are much less strict than those in neighboring nations.

E.Pollution in Remo has caused serious health problems for workers, contributing to a significant increase in the number of workdays lost to illness.

IMO definitely A.

We can use POE to get down to choose between A and C since they are two possible sensible choices. But A seems to negate it seriously and contents of C are not necessarily included in the argument.

C is not even close. It says nothing about " Pollution-Control systems" which is probably the most overused phrase in the passage. YOu have to check answer choices for these clues. If the argument is about pollution control systems, the answer choice will use that phrase not imply it or bury it under some general phrase or idea. You can use this technique to eliminate wrong answers in more difficult questions.

IMO - A

dtweah wrote:

amazonviper wrote:

aj5105 wrote:Unprecedented industrial growth in the country of Remo has created serious environmental problems because factories there lack adequate pollution-control systems. Remo is developing a clean growth plan that includes environmental regulations that will require the installation of such systems. Since no companies in Remo currently produce pollution-control systems, the plan, if implemented, will create significant opportunities for foreign exporters to market pollution-control systems.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

A.The clean growth plan will provide tax incentives for local businesses to develop and manufacture pollution-control devices.

B.Foreign exporters would provide factory-trained technicians to maintain the pollution-control systems sold to Remo.

C.Industrial lobbyists sponsored by local businesses in Remo are trying to prevent the implementation of the government regulations.

D.The regulations that Remo plans to implement are much less strict than those in neighboring nations.

E.Pollution in Remo has caused serious health problems for workers, contributing to a significant increase in the number of workdays lost to illness.

IMO definitely A.

We can use POE to get down to choose between A and C since they are two possible sensible choices. But A seems to negate it seriously and contents of C are not necessarily included in the argument.

C is not even close. It says nothing about " Pollution-Control systems" which is probably the most overused phrase in the passage. YOu have to check answer choices for these clues. If the argument is about pollution control systems, the answer choice will use that phrase not imply it or bury it under some general phrase or idea. You can use this technique to eliminate wrong answers in more difficult questions.

You are correct. C is indeed not close. I guess I assumed a bit there. Thanks for the tip!!.

Definitely A

It seems to me that the right answer is A