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- Fri Jan 21, 2011 12:00 am
#26465
Complete Question Explanation
Question #8: Main, FIB. The correct answer choice is (A).
The stimulus introduces an argument and promptly rejects it. This is a common paradigm, especially in Main Point questions, where competing viewpoints and counterarguments are often introduced in order to increase the level of difficulty of the question.
In a nutshell, proponents of the electric car believe that the car will help reduce the environmental degradation caused by auto emissions. As a counterpremise (“But…”), the author observes that the electricity needed to charge these cars will have to come from power sources that produce considerable environmental damage. The last sentence begins with the conclusion indicator “thus,” suggesting that you need to prephrase the conclusion of this argument. This is the second Main Point—FIB question in this section.
To prephrase the conclusion, look for contextual clues in the stimulus revealing the direction of the argument and the author’s intent. Indeed, your ability to quickly identify the correct answer to a Main Point question is directly tied to your understanding of the structure of the argument. The author’s counterpremise is designed to challenge the proponents’ conclusion that the electric car will help reduce the environmental degradation caused by auto emissions. The author has good reasons to question their optimism; in other words, she would probably conclude that the electric car will not help reduce emission-related environmental degradation as much as the proponents seem to believe. This prephrase agrees with answer choice (A).
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice, as it correctly states the author’s belief as a comparative, not an absolute, claim: the electric car will have worse environmental consequences than its proponents may believe. The wording of this inference as a comparative, not an absolute, claim is justified by the argument/counterargument structure presented in the stimulus.
Answer choice (B): The electric car’s popularity is not the issue here: the issue is whether or not it will have the anticipated environmental benefits claimed by the proponents.
Answer choice (C): The proponents’ conclusion is qualified by the assumption that the technical problems will be solved. The author counters by pointing out that even if they are solved, environmental issues will remain. This answer choice therefore fails the Fact Test and is incorrect.
Answer choice (D): This answer choice contains an exaggeration that cannot be proved with the information provided.
Answer choice (E): This is attractive, but incorrect. The author is skeptical about the environmental benefits of the electric car, but never stated that it will produce no net reduction in environmental degradation. This claim is exaggerated. The author may concede that the electric car could produce some net reduction in environmental degradation, but still argue that the benefits will not be as great as the proponents seem to believe. Remember: the correct answer choice must pass the Fact Test, i.e. it must be provable by reference to the information contained in the stimulus.
Question #8: Main, FIB. The correct answer choice is (A).
The stimulus introduces an argument and promptly rejects it. This is a common paradigm, especially in Main Point questions, where competing viewpoints and counterarguments are often introduced in order to increase the level of difficulty of the question.
In a nutshell, proponents of the electric car believe that the car will help reduce the environmental degradation caused by auto emissions. As a counterpremise (“But…”), the author observes that the electricity needed to charge these cars will have to come from power sources that produce considerable environmental damage. The last sentence begins with the conclusion indicator “thus,” suggesting that you need to prephrase the conclusion of this argument. This is the second Main Point—FIB question in this section.
To prephrase the conclusion, look for contextual clues in the stimulus revealing the direction of the argument and the author’s intent. Indeed, your ability to quickly identify the correct answer to a Main Point question is directly tied to your understanding of the structure of the argument. The author’s counterpremise is designed to challenge the proponents’ conclusion that the electric car will help reduce the environmental degradation caused by auto emissions. The author has good reasons to question their optimism; in other words, she would probably conclude that the electric car will not help reduce emission-related environmental degradation as much as the proponents seem to believe. This prephrase agrees with answer choice (A).
Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice, as it correctly states the author’s belief as a comparative, not an absolute, claim: the electric car will have worse environmental consequences than its proponents may believe. The wording of this inference as a comparative, not an absolute, claim is justified by the argument/counterargument structure presented in the stimulus.
Answer choice (B): The electric car’s popularity is not the issue here: the issue is whether or not it will have the anticipated environmental benefits claimed by the proponents.
Answer choice (C): The proponents’ conclusion is qualified by the assumption that the technical problems will be solved. The author counters by pointing out that even if they are solved, environmental issues will remain. This answer choice therefore fails the Fact Test and is incorrect.
Answer choice (D): This answer choice contains an exaggeration that cannot be proved with the information provided.
Answer choice (E): This is attractive, but incorrect. The author is skeptical about the environmental benefits of the electric car, but never stated that it will produce no net reduction in environmental degradation. This claim is exaggerated. The author may concede that the electric car could produce some net reduction in environmental degradation, but still argue that the benefits will not be as great as the proponents seem to believe. Remember: the correct answer choice must pass the Fact Test, i.e. it must be provable by reference to the information contained in the stimulus.
