PrepTest 105, Section 1, Question 15
Jessica: The budget surplus should be used only(27 more words not shown)
On the basis of their(17 more words not shown)
- AUsing the budget(17 more words not shown)
- BThe public deserves(12 more words not shown)
- CWhen there is(20 more words not shown)
- DCreating jobs through(9 more words not shown)
- EThere is a(16 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Why use the whole surplus that way? Jessica recommends increasing payments to unemployed people, but she gives no reason to exclude other uses. The government might fund schools, return money to taxpayers, or do something else.
Marcie proposes one specific alternative: a public works project that creates jobs. I'd want details before deciding which plan is better. What would the project accomplish, and how would its benefits compare with increased payments? The speakers don't give enough information to settle that policy question.
What we’re looking for
Fortunately, we only need to identify their disagreement. Jessica says the surplus should be used only for increased payments. Marcie says there is a better use: the jobs project. Look for a statement about whether a better use exists, then check that each speaker takes the opposite side.
Working the answers
- A
Marcie doesn't say increased payments would be a bad use of the money. She says a public works project would be better. Both could be good uses, with one better than the other. So Jessica's support for increased payments doesn't put her in a clear disagreement with Marcie over this weaker claim.
- B
Neither speaker frames the issue as what the public deserves. They recommend uses of this particular surplus. A claim about deserving jobs would require another commitment that their statements don't supply.
- C
“Usually” expands the scope beyond this decision. Jessica might generally prefer public works while thinking this particular surplus should go to increased payments. Marcie's recommendation could also depend on this particular project. Their statements don't establish opposite general rules for most such choices.
- D
Jessica could agree that a public works project would benefit the public and still favor increased payments as the better use of this money. Rejecting an option here doesn't mean believing it has no benefit. We lack a clear disagreement over D.
- ECorrect
Marcie says yes: a public works project would be a better use. Jessica says no by restricting the recommended use of the surplus to increased payments to unemployed people. This captures their disagreement about the present money without adding a general policy or pretending either speaker rejects every benefit of the other's plan.
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