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- Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:00 am
#63995
Complete Question Explanation
Must Be True—PR, CE. The correct answer choice is (C)
In this stimulus, the politician’s conclusion is presented in the first sentence:
Imported fruit should be taxed so that it is more expensive than domestic fruit.
The politician follows this conclusion with supporting premises—a discussion of what a tariff might
avoid. Otherwise, the politician argues, other countries’ cheaper fruit will put domestic fruit farmers
out of business, farmland will be used for more lucrative industry, and a unique way of life (fruit
farming) will disappear.
Considering that the argument is in favor of taxing foreign fruit, the politician clearly believes that
domestic fruit farming is worth saving—despite the fact that industrial uses would apparently bring
greater financial benefit. In other words, the politician favors a policy that would preserve this unique
way of life, even though that policy does not maximize financial exploitation of the land involved.
Answer choice (A): While one incidental outcome of the suggested fruit tariff might be placing the
politician’s own country’s economic interests above that of others, the central idea from the stimulus
is that a unique lifestyle should be preserved—even if fruit growing is not the most lucrative way to
use the land.
Answer choice (B): Like incorrect answer choice (A) above, this choice conforms to a principle that
is rather different from the principle suggested by the politician. The politician does not reference
producers in general, and does not weigh the interests of producers’ against those of the consumers;
rather, the politician’s recommendation puts the interests of the domestic fruit growers ahead of those
of maximization of financial gain.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. The principle presented in this choice
is aligned with the stand taken by the politician and discussed above—that saving domestic fruit
farming is worthwhile, even if it is not the most economically efficient outcome—that is, regardless
of the fact that it does not maximize financial gains.
Answer choice (D): Like the other answer choices which present slightly different groups whose
interests are being weighed, this choice is incorrect. The politician does not suggest that the interests
of one’s own citizens should take priority—the politician is merely suggesting that protection of
domestic fruit growers is more important than profit maximization.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice cannot be correct, because the politician’s suggestion
actually reduces economic efficiency. If free markets were allowed to reign, the foreign fruit growers
would have the advantage, and bring in cheaper fruit, putting the domestic growers out of business,
and the domestic land would then be converted for more lucrative use—thus government intervention
as suggested in this case would actually decrease efficiency.
Must Be True—PR, CE. The correct answer choice is (C)
In this stimulus, the politician’s conclusion is presented in the first sentence:
Imported fruit should be taxed so that it is more expensive than domestic fruit.The politician follows this conclusion with supporting premises—a discussion of what a tariff might
avoid. Otherwise, the politician argues, other countries’ cheaper fruit will put domestic fruit farmers
out of business, farmland will be used for more lucrative industry, and a unique way of life (fruit
farming) will disappear.
Considering that the argument is in favor of taxing foreign fruit, the politician clearly believes that
domestic fruit farming is worth saving—despite the fact that industrial uses would apparently bring
greater financial benefit. In other words, the politician favors a policy that would preserve this unique
way of life, even though that policy does not maximize financial exploitation of the land involved.
Answer choice (A): While one incidental outcome of the suggested fruit tariff might be placing the
politician’s own country’s economic interests above that of others, the central idea from the stimulus
is that a unique lifestyle should be preserved—even if fruit growing is not the most lucrative way to
use the land.
Answer choice (B): Like incorrect answer choice (A) above, this choice conforms to a principle that
is rather different from the principle suggested by the politician. The politician does not reference
producers in general, and does not weigh the interests of producers’ against those of the consumers;
rather, the politician’s recommendation puts the interests of the domestic fruit growers ahead of those
of maximization of financial gain.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice. The principle presented in this choice
is aligned with the stand taken by the politician and discussed above—that saving domestic fruit
farming is worthwhile, even if it is not the most economically efficient outcome—that is, regardless
of the fact that it does not maximize financial gains.
Answer choice (D): Like the other answer choices which present slightly different groups whose
interests are being weighed, this choice is incorrect. The politician does not suggest that the interests
of one’s own citizens should take priority—the politician is merely suggesting that protection of
domestic fruit growers is more important than profit maximization.
Answer choice (E): This answer choice cannot be correct, because the politician’s suggestion
actually reduces economic efficiency. If free markets were allowed to reign, the foreign fruit growers
would have the advantage, and bring in cheaper fruit, putting the domestic growers out of business,
and the domestic land would then be converted for more lucrative use—thus government intervention
as suggested in this case would actually decrease efficiency.