PT153 S2 Q12 ExplanationRegina: The additional revenue obtained

Answer choices, explained

1. A

   Unsupported Disagree Position11% picked this

   there will be shortfalls in budget areas other

   Both authors seem to agree that shortfalls in other budget areas exist. They're only disagreeing about whether this new transportation budget money will have any affect on those other areas.

   11%
2. B

   Out of Scope3% picked this

   the amount of money currently allocated to transportation

   Out of Scope: adequate Both Positions Unsupported Since neither author is using normative language like "adequate / enough / deficient / too much / too little", etc. we wouldn't be able to derive either person saying it is an adequate amount of money or either person saying it isn't an adequate amount.

   3%
3. C

   Out of Scope4% picked this

   new revenue from leasing government-owned toll bridges should be allocated

   Out of Scope: should Both Positions Unsupported Since neither author is using normative language like "good / bad / justified / unjustified / should / shouldn't" we wouldn't be able to derive either person saying new revenue should be allocated to transportation or shouldn't.

   4%
4. D

   Correct77% picked this

   new revenue allocated to transportation will result in existing transportation funds being reallocated

   Why this is right

   Amal would agree with this. He is saying that the new revenue headed to the transportation budget "will free up existing transportation funds for use in other areas". Regina implicitly disagrees with this. In order for conclusion to be true, she must be assuming that whatever money goes into (or is currently in) the transportation budget will not be used to reduce shortfalls in other budget areas. She doesn't think that the new revenue will result in existing transportation funds being reallocated to other areas.

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

   77%
5. E

   Out of Scope5% picked this

   leasing government-owned toll bridges to private investors will be financially beneficial

   Out of Scope: financially beneficial Unsupported Disagree Position If we think that "new revenue" means "financially beneficial", then both speakers would agree that this new lease program will be financially beneficial. If we think we would otherwise judge "financially beneficial" based on a wider calculus of net gain / loss between our current world of running the toll bridges ourselves and this proposed wold where a private investor runs them, then we don't know either speaker's position on whether this overall is in the government's financial interests. We definitely can't derive from either person's statements that "this program will not be financially beneficial".

   5%