Economist: If the belief were to become widespread

Answer choices

1. A

   Correct81% picked this

   Increased knowledge of the causes of job loss could lead to

   Why this is right

   This rewards us for understanding the causal chain being laid out, but it has the soft language of could that acknowledges the loose ends. Increased knowledge ? widespread belief People wanting govt intervention ? govt intervention But the gist is there and it's safely worded.

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

   81%
2. B

   Too Strong3% picked this

   An individual’s belief in his or her own abilities is the only reliable protection against

   Too Strong: "only" Out Of Scope: "own abilities" This is trying to bait people into making a move from "the govt trying to protect the economy would lead to disaster", so ..... "the only protection is believing in ourselves?" That is far too extreme and speculative a jump to make. There might be other forms of protection besides the government and oneself.

   3%
3. C

   Out Of Scope6% picked this

   Governments should never interfere with economic

   Out Of Scope: "should" Too Strong: "never" This author just describes the result of the government trying to control the economy. He doesn't editorialize and say anything about what we should / shouldn't do, and there are probably many forms of government "interfering" with economic forces that wouldn't count as the trigger of trying to control the economy.

   6%
4. D

   Actual vs. Hypothetical3% picked this

   Societal demand for government control of the economy

   The information was about connections between hypothetical events. We don't have any information about whether demand for control is / isn't actually growing.

   3%
5. E

   Out Of Scope7% picked this

   In general, people should feel no more responsible for economic disasters than

   Out Of Scope: should Unsupported Comparison: more responsible Too Strong: in general None of this information talked about whether or not people should feel responsible for economic disaster or for military invasions. It only talked about whether mainstream perception of someone losing a job was that the fired person was responsible or whether society was responsible.

   7%