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- Mon May 23, 2016 10:59 am
#25334
Complete Question Explanation
Main Point. The correct answer choice is (A)
This columnist discusses the technological feasibility of an economy that functions without paper money, facilitated by the ability of the government to electronically record all financial transactions. However, the author points out that people have a justified distrust of governments with too much power, and that such a paperless system would give the government too much power. On these grounds, the author concludes that society would never willingly accept such a system.
The argument breaks down as follows:
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. As discussed above, the author’s conclusion is that a society would never accept a financial system in which the government tracked every transaction (because this would give too much power to the government, and people are rightfully suspicious of a government with too much power). Remember - the conclusion of the argument is that statement, which is supported by the evidence presented, but that does not support any other claims made in the argument.
Answer choice (B): The columnist does make a point of saying that people are right to distrust a government with too much power, but while this choice is accurate according to the passage, this is not the main point of the argument.
Answer choice (C): This choice may have been appealing because it is factually accurate, and it is the first point made by the author of the stimulus. If this were a response to a Must Be True question it would be correct, but this is not the main point of the columnist’s argument and should be eliminated from contention in this case.
Answer choice (D): The columnist does say that people rightfully distrust a government with too much power, and that a society without paper money would give the government too much power. However, this is presented in support for another claim—that society would not willingly accept such a system—making the referenced claim a premise for the argument's main conclusion.
Answer choice (E): The columnist’s point is that no society would willingly accept a system in which the government has so much power—however, this leaves open the possibility that people could have such a system forced upon them. Thus, this answer choice goes a bit too far, with the claim that no government will be able to operate an economy without paper money. Since this answer doesn’t even pass the Fact Test, there is no way that it can possibly express the main point of the columnist’s argument.
Main Point. The correct answer choice is (A)
This columnist discusses the technological feasibility of an economy that functions without paper money, facilitated by the ability of the government to electronically record all financial transactions. However, the author points out that people have a justified distrust of governments with too much power, and that such a paperless system would give the government too much power. On these grounds, the author concludes that society would never willingly accept such a system.
The argument breaks down as follows:
- Premise: Electronic recording may soon make a paperless economy feasible.
Premise: But such a system would give a government too much power.
Premise: People are rightfully suspicious of a government with too much power.
Conclusion: Therefore, a society would never willingly accept such a system.
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice. As discussed above, the author’s conclusion is that a society would never accept a financial system in which the government tracked every transaction (because this would give too much power to the government, and people are rightfully suspicious of a government with too much power). Remember - the conclusion of the argument is that statement, which is supported by the evidence presented, but that does not support any other claims made in the argument.
Answer choice (B): The columnist does make a point of saying that people are right to distrust a government with too much power, but while this choice is accurate according to the passage, this is not the main point of the argument.
Answer choice (C): This choice may have been appealing because it is factually accurate, and it is the first point made by the author of the stimulus. If this were a response to a Must Be True question it would be correct, but this is not the main point of the columnist’s argument and should be eliminated from contention in this case.
Answer choice (D): The columnist does say that people rightfully distrust a government with too much power, and that a society without paper money would give the government too much power. However, this is presented in support for another claim—that society would not willingly accept such a system—making the referenced claim a premise for the argument's main conclusion.
Answer choice (E): The columnist’s point is that no society would willingly accept a system in which the government has so much power—however, this leaves open the possibility that people could have such a system forced upon them. Thus, this answer choice goes a bit too far, with the claim that no government will be able to operate an economy without paper money. Since this answer doesn’t even pass the Fact Test, there is no way that it can possibly express the main point of the columnist’s argument.