- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 8917
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Sat Jul 08, 2017 11:30 am
#36950
Complete Question Explanation
Point at Issue. The correct answer choice is (E)
In this dialogue, council member P asserts that some who see an instance of pollution are alarmists,
exaggerating its significance, since one incident should be distinguished from behavior reflecting the
general inclination not to pollute.
Council member Q implies that those people are not alarmists, arguing that they are simply applying the
general principle that people do what is easiest to do, and it is easier to pollute than to not pollute.
When asked to identify the point at issue, we should look for the basis of the fundamental disagreement.
Council member P says the complainers are alarmists, and that there is a general inclination not to
pollute. Council member Q argues that the people aren’t alarmists, and that there is a general inclination
to pollute. The correct answer choice will identify an issue with which one speaker would agree, and the
other would disagree.
Answer choice (A): This answer may at first appear relevant to the discussion of whether or not people
are “alarmist.” However, both politicians might agree that pollution should be considered a problem
without agreeing about the full extent of the problem or the appropriate response to its incidence, so this
choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): Council member P does not have to disagree with this statement, because council
member P could accept that people follow the easiest path, but argue that it is easier to not pollute.
Answer choice (C): Both council members might accept that people are responsible for pollution, so this
choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (D): The stimulus offers no insight into the beliefs of the council members concerning
people’s ability to change their behavior.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. It reflects the crux of the council members’
disagreement. The council members’ differing conclusions are based on different beliefs about people’s
inclination to pollute.
Point at Issue. The correct answer choice is (E)
In this dialogue, council member P asserts that some who see an instance of pollution are alarmists,
exaggerating its significance, since one incident should be distinguished from behavior reflecting the
general inclination not to pollute.
Council member Q implies that those people are not alarmists, arguing that they are simply applying the
general principle that people do what is easiest to do, and it is easier to pollute than to not pollute.
When asked to identify the point at issue, we should look for the basis of the fundamental disagreement.
Council member P says the complainers are alarmists, and that there is a general inclination not to
pollute. Council member Q argues that the people aren’t alarmists, and that there is a general inclination
to pollute. The correct answer choice will identify an issue with which one speaker would agree, and the
other would disagree.
Answer choice (A): This answer may at first appear relevant to the discussion of whether or not people
are “alarmist.” However, both politicians might agree that pollution should be considered a problem
without agreeing about the full extent of the problem or the appropriate response to its incidence, so this
choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (B): Council member P does not have to disagree with this statement, because council
member P could accept that people follow the easiest path, but argue that it is easier to not pollute.
Answer choice (C): Both council members might accept that people are responsible for pollution, so this
choice is incorrect.
Answer choice (D): The stimulus offers no insight into the beliefs of the council members concerning
people’s ability to change their behavior.
Answer choice (E): This is the correct answer choice. It reflects the crux of the council members’
disagreement. The council members’ differing conclusions are based on different beliefs about people’s
inclination to pollute.