PrepTest 141, Section 2, Question 24
A survey of a city's concertgoers found that(72 more words not shown)
Which one of the following,(18 more words not shown)
- ABefore any of(24 more words not shown)
- BMost of the(19 more words not shown)
- CThe city's construction(22 more words not shown)
- DA well-publicized plan(25 more words not shown)
- EMany popular singers(24 more words not shown)
Reading the argument
Wanting a better concert hall doesn't mean wanting this one torn down.
What if the building is historic? I could dislike the narrow seats while wanting to preserve the place. What if replacement is too expensive, whether through taxes or higher ticket prices? Better seats and sound might not be worth the cost.
There's also the disruption. If tearing it down means spending five years without a local concert venue, I might prefer putting up with the current problems. Being dissatisfied doesn't mean every available fix is an improvement overall.
What we’re looking for
So the views don't have to conflict. The question asks what explains them, and I'd look for something that makes demolition unattractive despite the desired improvements: preserving the building, avoiding the cost, or avoiding a long interruption. We should keep both desires in view when reading the answers.
Working the answers
- A
Knowing who sponsored the survey doesn't tell us why respondents opposed demolition. They could agree or disagree with the sponsor for any number of reasons. Without some fact about how that information affects their views, the sponsor's preference doesn't explain the respondents' different preference.
- B
Nearby residents and concertgoers aren't necessarily the same group. Even if some overlap, learning that the neighbors oppose demolition doesn't tell us why concertgoers want better facilities yet oppose replacing this building. It repeats an attitude for a different population without supplying the needed reason.
- C
A greater benefit to the construction industry doesn't explain the concertgoers' opposition. They might care about that benefit or not. We need something connecting their desire for improvements with their reluctance to demolish the existing hall, and C doesn't provide it.
- DCorrect
Here's another way to reconcile the views: keep the old building for a different public use and build a new concert hall nearby. Concertgoers could favor that alternative while opposing a plan that demolishes the existing structure. The well-publicized proposal gives them a reason to see demolition as unnecessary. It's a plan under consideration, not a guaranteed new building, but its availability as an alternative helps explain their position.
- E
Attracting more performers would be another reason to like a new concert hall. That doesn't explain opposition to tearing down the old one to build it. It strengthens the appeal of the proposed benefit while leaving the reluctance unexplained.
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