June 1999 Section 1 #10

[scharles35]

In section 1 #10 the principle question i understand why (D) is correct and luckily that's the answer i had picked but i was also looking at answer (A)? is it because in the stimulus it said " a nation CAN experience..." and then in the answer choice it said " ANY nation in which..."
Can is more like there is a possibility that it will not happen AND
Any is saying it will happen??

[Steve Stein]

Hi Charles,

When you read that one, you need to consider the rest of the sentence as well: A nation can experience growth only when there exists a balance between consumer confidence and a bit of consumer skepticism. In other words, that balance is the necessary condition:

Economic Growth balance between consumer confidence and skepticism

Answer choice (A), as you properly noted, sets up a different conclusion: "any nation with that balance will have economic growth" would mean that the balance is sufficient to guarantee economic growth:

Balance between consumer confidence and skepticism Economic Growth

i hope that's helpful--please let me know whether this is clear--thanks!

~Steve