#17 - Specific Reference, Author's Perspective

[Chandler H]

Author's Perspective (AP), Specific Reference (SR)
(See the complete passage discussion here: viewtopic.php?f=895&t=38305)

The correct answer choice is (C).

The justification for the correct answer can be found in lines 33-40, in which the author criticizes the project directors for "missing an opportunity to stimulate local production," and finally concludes that the project directors are responsible for the project in Brazil stalling.

[aheartofsunshine]

Hi,

I am having difficulty with this question. Is C correct because by the Brazil project directors basically relied solely on the short term savings from their investment and did not see the need to create local involvement? And because of that, that is how they "overemphasized the importance of reducing short term costs"?

E is not a better answer because the author really never said anything about the directors intentions, so we can't really assume this?

Thanks!

[Adam Tyson]

It's more than just that one comment about the costs, aheartofsunshine. It's a large part of the second paragraph that tells us that the directors of the Brazilian project screwed up. They "missed an opportunity" and "precluded the long-term benefits" and made "further investment and expansion unlikely." All this disappointment in them, this criticism of how they blew it, is wrapped up in the final sentence of the paragraph, which tells us that as a result of their poor decisions the movement towards sustainable rural electricity "remains stalled."

But we don't know why they did this. Maybe they were very committed to the idea, but were foolish? That's why we cannot pick answer E - you're exactly right that we know nothing about their desires or motives, just their poor results.

[kaliee.kinsss]

Hello, I chose B as the correct answer. I do understand a bit about why it is wrong but I chose it because of the phrase "quality of local technological expertise". I know the author's tone was more neutral but do you have any tips for when this confusion comes up and what to do about it?

[Dana D]

Hey kaliee,

It's not just the tone you want to focus on but also the content of the answer choice itself. Answer choice (B) is wrong both because we don't have any indicator that the author is suprised, and because the content of answer choice (B) doesn't make sense. The quality of local tech expertise wasn't the issue of the Brazil project - there were local Brazillian investors, but the agency who developed the project was actually from the US.

So in the future for questions about author's perspective, you want to make sure not only that the tone matches but also that the answer choice actually addresses what the author said in the passage.

hope that helps!
Dana