#20 - Specific Reference, Must Be True

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

The correct answer choice is (A).

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

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C):

Answer choice (D):

Answer choice (E):


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

[sicm91]

Hi! Can you please explain why E is wrong?

[Ryan Twomey]

Hey Sicm,


E is incorrect specifically because the passage does not say anything about the need to restrict a monopoly itself. The passage seems to be okay with monopolies existing, just not the abuse of a monopoly. The abuse of a monopoly is spelled out in the 4th paragraph: excluding competition and leverage. There is a nice example in that paragraph that will help you understand the concept of leverage.

So to sum up, E is wrong because the passage does not at all discuss anything about the need to restrict monopolies, instead focusing on the need to restrict monopoly's abuse of power.

Hope this helps.

Best,
Ryan

[alex.r.berson@gmail.com]

Hi Powerscore,

I read (A) as being too editorial and positive - is that the wrong read? Should the fact that these questions - add a sentence questions or whatever - come in the conclusion that we should be OK with editorializing/personalizing?

I fully see why (E) is wrong - that's what I chose.

[Jeff Wren]

Hi Alex,

We refer to these questions as "Expansion" Questions.

The correct answer for these questions should match the tone of the passage and follow or expand upon ideas that are already expressed in the passage. You are not looking to take the passage in a completely different direction in terms of topic.

Here, Answer A matches the tone of the passage and restates ideas already addressed in the passage. The passage distinguishes between monopoly power itself (which isn't always bad) and the abuse of monopoly power, which is the real problem. The relevant sections are paragraphs 3 and 4. Paragraph 3 begins by stating that "Supracompetitive prices are associated with a loss of consumer's welfare" (lines 28-29), but then states that "supracompetitive prices, however, do not by themselves constitute an abuse of monopoly power" (lines 31-33). The paragraph later explains that laws preventing monopolies in some cases "could impair consumer's welfare" (lines 43-44).

These references support Answer A. Answer A also makes sense in the context of the final sentence of the passage, which it would be following (based on the question).