PrepTest 106, Section 1, Question 10
It is a principle of economics that a(18 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(8 more words not shown)
- AAny nation in(16 more words not shown)
- BAny nation in(13 more words not shown)
- CAny nation in(17 more words not shown)
- DAny nation in(14 more words not shown)
- EAny nation in(16 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
“Only when” gives us a requirement. For economic growth, the principle demands consumer confidence balanced with a small amount of skepticism. Confidence alone won't meet it. Neither will skepticism alone.
Meeting that requirement is different from guaranteeing growth. The principle doesn't rule out other obstacles. Think of needing a ticket to enter an event: having no ticket rules you out, but having a ticket might not be enough if the event is canceled. The point is the direction of the rule, not a claim about any particular economy.
What we’re looking for
We need an application of the principle. I'd look for a nation missing a required part of the balance and therefore unable to experience growth. We can rule growth out when its stated requirement fails; we cannot promise growth just because the requirement is met.
Working the answers
- A
This gives the specified balance and then guarantees growth. But the principle says growth requires that balance, not that the balance is all a nation needs. Other barriers could remain. A takes a requirement and treats it as a complete recipe for the result.
- B
An attitude that isn't predominantly skepticism doesn't necessarily have the stated balance. It could be entirely confidence, with none of the required skepticism. And even if the proper balance were present, the principle still wouldn't guarantee growth. B skips both distinctions.
- C
Either extreme leaves out something required. Exclusive confidence contains no skepticism; exclusive skepticism contains no confidence. The principle therefore rules out growth in those cases. C says growth will occur, which goes against the rule we're applying.
- DCorrect
Exclusive confidence means there is no skepticism at all. The required small amount of skepticism is therefore missing. Since the nation can experience growth only with the specified balance, it cannot experience growth in this situation.
We aren't assuming confidence is generally bad. We're applying this particular requirement: all confidence is missing a component that the principle says growth needs.
- E
This reverses the described balance: mainly skepticism with a small amount of confidence is not confidence balanced with a small amount of skepticism. It also makes the same guarantee as A. Even the specified balance would not, by itself, establish that growth will occur.
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