#11 - A law is futile unless most of the parties subject to it abide by it willingly

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

Assumption. The correct answer choice is (B).

Answer choice (A):

Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice.

Answer choice (C):

Answer choice (D):

Answer choice (E):

This explanation is still in progress. Please post any questions below!

[aziragoramo]

Does (E) most of the current international laws concerning pollution do not require nations to give up any of their power over their own idustries weaken the argument?

[srusty]

Hi Azira! Answer choice (E) provides context about existing pollution laws but does not weaken the argument. We don’t know if these existing laws are comprehensive. We are looking for an assumption being made in the argument, and our assumption is about nations having to exert control over their industries. Hope this helps!

[nicizle]

Hi there,

I ultimately got this question correct and picked A, but could someone provide a more in-depth explanation of what makes E incorrect? I felt A and E were very similar but went with A.

If the support for the conclusion notes that few countries would give up their power over their industries in favor of pollution reform, then wouldn't a required assumption be that countries currently assume power over their own industries and that existing pollution law does not require them to give that power up? Is that not what E speaks to?

Please help.

[Luke Haqq]

Hi nicizle!

Answer choice (A) would have been incorrect for this question. The correct answer is (B).

Since this is an assumption question, we can confirm that (B) is correct by applying the Assumption Negation technique. Negated, (B) would be, "[No] nations would be required to give up some of their power over their own industries as part of any comprehensive solution to the problem of pollution." If that were true, the argument would fall apart, since it's no longer clear why there couldn't be a comprehensive international solution to the problem of pollution if countries didn't in actuality have to give up power over their own industries.

Answer choice (E) seems somewhat beside the point. Note that it's talking about most "current international laws." By contrast, the stimulus is talking about whether there can be a "comprehensive international solution." Whatever current international laws may require doesn't really address the conclusion about a comprehensive international solution not being possible.