Editorial: The most vocal proponents

Answer choices

1. A

   Irrelevant Comparison2% picked this

   The average income of the island’s summer residents is greater than the average income of

   This answer choice addresses income differences between summer and permanent residents, but the argument’s focus is on the distribution of benefits and costs rather than on the relative income levels between the two groups.

   2%
2. B

   Correct73% picked this

   The problems associated with this law outweigh any benefits it might provide the

   Why this is right

   This answer choice is necessary because it establishes the assumption that even if the law confers some benefits on permanent residents, those benefits are outweighed by the problems it causes them. Without this assumption, one could argue that local residents might still gain overall, undermining the conclusion that support for the law solely serves outsider interests.

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

   73%
3. C

   Too Strong (most)10% picked this

   Most of the island’s summer residents would benefit from passage of

   The word 'most' is almost always wrong on Necessary Assumption, because does it really make a crucial difference to this argument whether 51% of summer residents benefit from the law, as opposed to 49%? No, that distinction would only matter if the author were claiming something about "most summer residents". In actuality, the author seems to be saying that the law will benefit "a few" outsiders".

   10%
4. D

   Too Strong (most)2% picked this

   Most of the island’s summer residents support passage of

   The word 'most' is almost always wrong on Necessary Assumption, because does it really make a crucial difference to this argument whether 51% of summer residents support the law, as opposed to 49%? No, that distinction would only matter if the author were claiming something about "most summer residents". In actuality, the author seems to be saying that the law will benefit "a few" outsiders". Saying "the most vocal proponents are outsiders" is not the same as saying "most outsiders are vocal proponents".

   2%
5. E

   Too Strong13% picked this

   Most of the island’s permanent residents oppose passage of

   Once again, the word "most" is an irrelevant piece of specificity. The argument doesn't care whether 51% of locals vs. 49% of them oppose the passage. The author is making a claim about whether the locals would benefit, not about whether they oppose it.

   13%