Resident: Residents of this locale

Answer choices

1. A

   Weaker Impact2% picked this

   Farming is becoming increasingly efficient, with the result that fewer farms are required to produce the

   Maybe we could try to say, "Don't be sad about losing farming. We just don't need as many farms now that we're this efficient", but that's not a great way to reassure someone: "Don't be sad -- we just don't need you anymore".

   2%
2. B

   Weaker Impact3% picked this

   The development of high-tech industry is more valuable to national security

   Maybe we could try to say, "Don't be sad about losing farming. This area now supports high-tech industry, which is more valuable to national security than farming." But saying that something is needed for national security isn't a great way to reassure someone. "Don't be sad that your kid died overseas in WWII -- fighting this war is better for our national security than staying out of it would have been."

   3%
3. C

   Correct67% picked this

   Residents of this locale do not value a rural way of life more than they

   Why this is right

   If the residents care at least as much about economic prosperity, then we can say, "Don't be sad about losing farming. Now you've got economic prosperity, which you value at least as much!" This reads like a Defender necessary assumption, with the telltale "not". If we negated this answer, it would be a crushing blow to the argument. The residents would say, "Who cares that we're economically thriving! We don't want sterile office jobs. We wanted to work the land. We value that way of life more than economic prosperity". So we know the argument is assuming this, and affirming an assumption always strengthens.

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

   67%
4. D

   Too Weak: many26% picked this

   Many residents of this locale have annual incomes that are twice what they were when the

   This indicates that some number of residents make more money now, but "many" isn't that strong a quantity, and we don't know if these are former farers or if they value income over their traditional lifestyle, leaving open the idea of farming as a tragedy.

   26%
5. E

   Weakens2% picked this

   The loss of a family farm is often perceived as tragic even when no

   This states that losing a family farm is often perceived as tragic, directly opposing the notion that residents should not view the loss of farming tragically.

   2%