- Wed Mar 30, 2016 6:47 pm
#22672
Question #2: Assumption, CE. The correct answer choice is (B)
This stimulus begins with something of a paradox: despite the decline in sales of other fuel-efficient cars, the Hydro’s sales are rising, which its manufacturers attribute to price and fuel efficiency. The author, however, is quick to note that the Hydro is actually comparable in these categories to its competitors. So how does one explain the popularity difference?
The author draws the causal conclusion that the Hydro is outselling its competition because people are buying it in order to appear environmentally conscious to their neighbors.
So consider that belief about appearance. There’s the obvious aspect of perception, of course, where people care how others view them, but there’s also the implied notion that the Hydro itself must be more obviously, more recognizably, good for the environment that its competitors. Otherwise why buy it in an attempt to impress people? Maybe the looks of the car make it easily identifiable as fuel efficient, maybe its reputation as environmentally-friendly is greater than that of other cars...regardless, the author believes the Hydro is in some way more recognizable than other cars and that’s going to be the central point of the correct answer.
Answer choice (A): Whether or not the Hydro is currently the most popular car in its field is irrelevant; the argument is simply about why the Hydro’s sales are on the rise when other, similar cars’ sales are in decline. Overall, or absolute, popularity doesn’t matter.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. As mentioned above, the author’s argument that people buy the Hydro for appearance sake means that it must be more, or at least uniquely, recognizable compared to its competition.
Answer choice (C): “Safety” was never an issue in this argument. In fact, if answer choice (C) is true then it would actually weaken the author’s argument, since it provides an alternate cause for greater sales—safety concerns—than the author’s view about appearance.
Answer choice (D): could be a tempting answer choice for some, as it seems at first glance to support the idea of Hydro buyers’ relationships with their neighbors (they’re all more likely to buy a Hydro), but in actuality the likelihood of Hydro purchases in proximity (everyone on the block, say) is irrelevant to why people buy Hydros. And since the author is arguing for that why, answer choice (D) is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): Again, we’re concerned only with the motivating factor(s) behind the purchase. The author believes it to be a concern about appearance, and that’s what the answer must address, so when (E) describes Hydro buyers’ real beliefs (rather than motivations) it has no effect on the argument.
This stimulus begins with something of a paradox: despite the decline in sales of other fuel-efficient cars, the Hydro’s sales are rising, which its manufacturers attribute to price and fuel efficiency. The author, however, is quick to note that the Hydro is actually comparable in these categories to its competitors. So how does one explain the popularity difference?
The author draws the causal conclusion that the Hydro is outselling its competition because people are buying it in order to appear environmentally conscious to their neighbors.
So consider that belief about appearance. There’s the obvious aspect of perception, of course, where people care how others view them, but there’s also the implied notion that the Hydro itself must be more obviously, more recognizably, good for the environment that its competitors. Otherwise why buy it in an attempt to impress people? Maybe the looks of the car make it easily identifiable as fuel efficient, maybe its reputation as environmentally-friendly is greater than that of other cars...regardless, the author believes the Hydro is in some way more recognizable than other cars and that’s going to be the central point of the correct answer.
Answer choice (A): Whether or not the Hydro is currently the most popular car in its field is irrelevant; the argument is simply about why the Hydro’s sales are on the rise when other, similar cars’ sales are in decline. Overall, or absolute, popularity doesn’t matter.
Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer choice. As mentioned above, the author’s argument that people buy the Hydro for appearance sake means that it must be more, or at least uniquely, recognizable compared to its competition.
Answer choice (C): “Safety” was never an issue in this argument. In fact, if answer choice (C) is true then it would actually weaken the author’s argument, since it provides an alternate cause for greater sales—safety concerns—than the author’s view about appearance.
Answer choice (D): could be a tempting answer choice for some, as it seems at first glance to support the idea of Hydro buyers’ relationships with their neighbors (they’re all more likely to buy a Hydro), but in actuality the likelihood of Hydro purchases in proximity (everyone on the block, say) is irrelevant to why people buy Hydros. And since the author is arguing for that why, answer choice (D) is incorrect.
Answer choice (E): Again, we’re concerned only with the motivating factor(s) behind the purchase. The author believes it to be a concern about appearance, and that’s what the answer must address, so when (E) describes Hydro buyers’ real beliefs (rather than motivations) it has no effect on the argument.