Economist: The economy seems to

Answer choices

1. A

   Weak Match3% picked this

   It is the phenomenon that the argument seeks

   The fact that consumers are buying more durable goods than before is something that could be construed as a phenomenon. Why are they buying more durable goods than before? The author's explanation for that would probably be that "they're buying more durable goods because they expect economic growth in the near future". But when an answer is saying "the argument seeks to explain this phenomenon" we would think that the Main Conclusion will be the explanation. However, in this paragraph, the explanation for this phenomenon is the final claim, which is an intermediate conclusion. The author is interpreting the uptick in the purchase of durable goods to mean that people expect economic growth in the near future, which he then takes to mean that we are headed out of a recession. The author's purpose in writing this argument isn't to explain a phenomenon that happened; it's to support a prediction of what is happening / about to happen.

   3%
2. B

   Too Strong: required3% picked this

   Its truth is required in order for the argument’s conclusion to

   In order for an economy to be seemingly heading out of recession, does it need to be true that consumers are buying more durable goods than before? It doesn't seem like that's a necessary indicator, just an indicator. Maybe it would be enough to know that jobs are being added to the economy every month or new home constructions are surfing.

   3%
3. C

   Wrong Roles4% picked this

   It is an inference drawn from the premise that the recession seems

   The 2nd claim is not an inference; it's data. It's what recent figures show. The 3rd claim is an inference drawn from the 2nd claim. And "the recession seems to be ending" is the main conclusion, not a premise.

   4%
4. D

   Switched Roles6% picked this

   It is an inference drawn from the premise that consumers expect economic growth in

   The 2nd claim is not an inference; it's data. It's what recent figures show. The 3rd claim is an inference drawn from the 2nd claim. If we see this, Recent figures show that X, indicating that Y it means that X is a premise, and Y in an inference drawn from that premise.

   6%
5. E

   Correct83% picked this

   It is the primary evidence from which the argument’s conclusion

   Why this is right

   This correctly identifies the 2nd claim as support (i.e. evidence). It is definitely a little weird to call it "primary" evidence. That's not a term that's shown up on other Role questions to distinguish one supporting idea from another. It is the most foundational piece of evidence, so that must be what they mean by "primary". We start with recent figures and see that consumers are buying more durable goods than before. From that we infer that consumers must be expecting economic growth, and from that we infer that the economy seems to be heading out of recession.

   Skill tested: Role · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   83%