PrepTest 127, Section 1, Question 2
Economist: Some sociologists argue that because capitalism intrinsically(36 more words not shown)
Which one of the following(9 more words not shown)
- AFew economic systems(12 more words not shown)
- BModern capitalism is(14 more words not shown)
- CCorporations that compete(21 more words not shown)
- DHaving large corporations(11 more words not shown)
- EAn economic system(15 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Competition does not have to make people less connected. Two people who play chess against each other might develop respect and become friends. And a business owner competes with certain other businesses, not with every neighbor. So I would want more support for the sociologists' claim that competition weakens a community's ties.
But those are the sociologists' views. What does the economist argue? Modern capitalism requires large corporations, so it actually promotes communal ties.
How does the size of a company establish that? A large company such as Pepsi is different from a small neighborhood shop, but the economist never explains why that difference should bring people closer together. We need the connection between large corporations and stronger communities.
Even if we granted that large corporations somehow removed the old harm, that would not yet show a benefit. Something can leave communal ties unchanged. “It doesn't weaken the ties” and “it strengthens the ties” are different claims, and the economist is making the stronger, positive claim.
What we’re looking for
The question asks what this argument depends on. We need something the economist must accept for the stated reason to support that conclusion. I expect a connection between having large corporations and strengthening communal ties.
Working the answers
- A
The economist does not rank capitalism against other economic systems. Several other systems could be even better at strengthening communal ties while capitalism still strengthened them. Being among the best systems is not required for the claim that this system has a positive effect.
- B
What capitalism was designed to do is different from what it actually does. It could be designed to distribute goods and still strengthen communal ties as an unintended benefit. The argument concerns the effect, so it does not depend on this claim about the purpose.
- C
Ties between competing corporations are not necessarily ties between people in a community. Two companies might agree on rules without bringing neighbors closer together. The economist also does not need this particular arrangement for the claimed community benefit; C supplies a new story about corporate cooperation.
- DCorrect
Large corporations are the economist's reason for concluding that modern capitalism strengthens communal ties. The argument needs those corporations to have that positive effect. If having large corporations did not promote communal ties, the stated difference between modern capitalism and the past would not support the economist's conclusion. D supplies the connection we wanted.
- E
Economic success is not the effect we are trying to establish. A system with large corporations could make more money while weakening, strengthening, or leaving communal ties unchanged. Comparing it with a system that does not encourage large corporations does not resolve the missing connection.
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