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- Wed May 11, 2016 4:34 pm
#24426
Complete Question Explanation
Strengthen-PR. The correct answer choice is (B)
To identify a principle that strengthens the argument, look for a broad rule that specifies what actions must be taken to achieve the goal outlined in the conclusion. Since the conclusion recommends that consumers buy books only from an independent bookstore and not from a bookstore chain, the correct principle must identify a rule applicable to consumers, not booksellers. This immediately eliminates answer choices (A) and (C).
The reason why the author recommends buying books from independent bookstores is that they tend not to reduce the variety of books available to consumers, unlike chain bookstores, which do. This argument makes a leap from fact to judgment: just because a retailer reduces the variety of products available to consumers, that does not mean that consumers should automatically shun those retailers. The missing rule should therefore establish a logical relationship between the consumers’ buying habits and the consequences of these habits on the variety of products available for purchase. Answer choice (B) is therefore correct.
Answer choice (A): This principle applies to chain bookstores, whereas the author’s recommendation is targetted at consumers. This answer choice fails to support the conclusion and is therefore incorrect.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. See discussion above.
Answer choice (C): The interest of the bookselling business it not at issue in this argument. Furthermore, this answer choice states a fact, not what actions or judgments should apply in the given situation.
Answer choice (D): There is no evidence to suggest that chain bookstores deliberately force competing bookstores out of business. That the existence of independent bookstores is threatened by chain bookstores is not, by itself, suggestive of some deliberate motive or intention. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): What consumers should do if they have no access to any independent bookstore is outside the scope of this argument. This answer choice is incorrect.
Strengthen-PR. The correct answer choice is (B)
To identify a principle that strengthens the argument, look for a broad rule that specifies what actions must be taken to achieve the goal outlined in the conclusion. Since the conclusion recommends that consumers buy books only from an independent bookstore and not from a bookstore chain, the correct principle must identify a rule applicable to consumers, not booksellers. This immediately eliminates answer choices (A) and (C).
The reason why the author recommends buying books from independent bookstores is that they tend not to reduce the variety of books available to consumers, unlike chain bookstores, which do. This argument makes a leap from fact to judgment: just because a retailer reduces the variety of products available to consumers, that does not mean that consumers should automatically shun those retailers. The missing rule should therefore establish a logical relationship between the consumers’ buying habits and the consequences of these habits on the variety of products available for purchase. Answer choice (B) is therefore correct.
Answer choice (A): This principle applies to chain bookstores, whereas the author’s recommendation is targetted at consumers. This answer choice fails to support the conclusion and is therefore incorrect.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. See discussion above.
Answer choice (C): The interest of the bookselling business it not at issue in this argument. Furthermore, this answer choice states a fact, not what actions or judgments should apply in the given situation.
Answer choice (D): There is no evidence to suggest that chain bookstores deliberately force competing bookstores out of business. That the existence of independent bookstores is threatened by chain bookstores is not, by itself, suggestive of some deliberate motive or intention. This answer choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): What consumers should do if they have no access to any independent bookstore is outside the scope of this argument. This answer choice is incorrect.