#3 - Concept Reference, Must Be True

[Zarie Blackburn]

Complete Question Explanation

The correct answer choice is (D).

Answer choice (A):

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C):

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

Answer choice (E):


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

[Khodi7531]

5-19 I used as support to justify C. Once i saw see, I didn't even read D and E. I was confident enough to circle it and moved on (under time).


I don't see why the answer is D and wondering how one would reach that. I know the author "implies" referes to what the author meant and my support is speaking of what some countries are doing - not really his own words. Is that why you get rid of C?

I really need help with this question.

[James Finch]

Hi Khodi,

As a Must Be True question, we will be looking for an inference as the correct answer choice. Looking at this question, answer choice (C) is an attractive wrong answer. It is wrong though, because the frequency element that it introduces is unsupported by the passage: the first sentence mentions that these contracts are "occasionally" entered into, but not that this is becoming a more common occurrence, as (C)'s use of the word "increasingly" would. Instead, (D) is supported by lines 11-27, describing why viewing the economic development agreements as administrative contracts would be unattractive and risky to investors (the governments would have unilateral power to terminate or change the contract at will).

Be careful when an attractive answer pops out not to immediately choose it and move on; a common strategy of the test makers is to hide the correct answer choice immediately before or after an attractive wrong answer choice. Always read all five choices (unless guessing) and give each a fair look before deciding and moving on.

Hope this helps!

[gavelgirl]

Hello,

I got the answer correct by choosing D but I spent way too long deciding D because I was stuck between D and E. Why is E incorrect? Is it because we don't know if they have become less attractive? I honestly can't say why I think E is right, but I cant say why it's wrong so maybe that's reason enough.

[Jeremy Press]

Hi gavelgirl,

The major problem with answer choice E is a quantitative one (often the case on "inference" or "implies" style questions).
Specifically, where in the passage does it say that "an increasing number of governments that enter into such agreements consider them governed by the law of ordinary contracts?" I can't find any support for the notion of an "increasing number" of governments considering such contracts in this way. Instead, I only see that in the last paragraph the author has identified two countries whose governments (probably) consider them this way: "In both the United States and the United Kingdom, government contracts are governed by the ordinary law of contracts." Since the passage never talks about the change in number (or whether there has been a chance in number) of governments considering contracts to be governed by ordinary contract law, we don't have the support we need for answer choice E.

I hope this helps!