PrepTest 126, Section 4, Question 10
In some countries, national planners have attempted to(54 more words not shown)
Which one of the following,(11 more words not shown)
- AGovernment subsidies to(17 more words not shown)
- BAll problems that(7 more words not shown)
- CA scarcity of(12 more words not shown)
- DProblems associated with(14 more words not shown)
- EFree trade policies(8 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Buying food from abroad could help if fewer people are growing it at home. The economists' plan is to trade what city residents produce for the agricultural products the country used to produce itself. That sounds possible, but do we have trading partners who want those goods or services?
There's another question: what problem are we solving? If people moving to cities mainly creates crowded streets and unaffordable rent, importing more food might leave much of the trouble untouched. The economists propose a food-supply solution without first establishing that a lack of agricultural products is central to the problems.
What we’re looking for
We need to strengthen their claim that this plan would work. Evidence of willing trading partners could help with the first concern. Evidence that food shortages are a major part of the problem could help with the second. Keep both questions in mind rather than assuming that obtaining the food settles everything.
Working the answers
- A
This proposes a different way to help: government subsidies to urban manufacturers. The economists recommend exchanging urban goods or services for agricultural products. Showing that subsidies could ease the problems doesn't establish that their trade plan would do so.
- B
Even if every economically caused problem had an economic solution, why would this particular solution work? There could be several possible approaches, including ones quite different from the economists' recommendation. B also doesn't establish that all the relevant problems have economic causes. Its broad assurance leaves this plan untested.
- CCorrect
A shortage of agricultural products is central to many of the problems caused by urbanization. Now the plan targets an important part of the actual problem: trade would replace agricultural supplies lost as people leave rural areas. We don't have to show food is the only problem, or that importing it solves every consequence of migration. Establishing that it is central gives the recommendation meaningful support.
- D
A trade imbalance isn't the same as a shortage of agricultural products. The answer doesn't explain how the proposed exchange would correct those imbalances, nor does the plan itself necessarily make them worse. Without that connection, identifying imbalances as a cause doesn't support this particular remedy.
- E
If freer trade can make urbanization's problems worse, that doesn't support the recommendation to address them through trade. It raises a concern about that general approach instead. We need help for the plan, not a reason its effects might be harmful.
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