Certain politicians in the country of Birangi argue that a 50 percent tax on new automobiles would halt the rapid increase of automobiles on Birangi’s roads and thereby slow the deterioration of Birangi’s air quality.Although most experts agree that such a tax would result in fewer Birangians buying new vehicles and gradually reduce the number of automobiles on Birangi’s roads, they contend that it would have little impact on Birangi’s air-quality problem.
Which of the following, if true in Birangi, would most strongly support the experts’ contention about the effect of the proposed automobile tax on Birangi’s air-quality problem?
A.Automobile emissions are the largest single source of air pollution.
B.Some of the proceeds from the new tax would go toward expanding the nonpolluting commuter rail system.
C.Currently, the sales tax on new automobiles is considerably lower than 50 percent.
D.Automobiles become less fuel efficient and therefore contribute more to air pollution as they age.
E.The scrapping of automobiles causes insignificant amounts of air pollution.
Of patients over 65 years old who survived coronary bypass surgery—a procedure widely prescribed for people with heart disease—only 75 percent benefited from the surgery.Thus it appears that for one in four such patients, the doctors who advised them to undergo this surgery, with its attendant risks and expense, were more interested in an opportunity to practice their skills and in their fee than in helping the patient.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the argument?
A.Many of the patients who receive coronary bypass surgery are less than 55 years old.
B.Possible benefits of coronary bypass surgery include both relief from troubling symptoms and prolongation of life.
C.Most of the patients in the survey decided to undergo coronary bypass surgery because they were advised that the surgery would reduce their risk of future heart attacks.
D.The patients over 65 years old who did not benefit from the coronary bypass surgery were as fully informed as those who did benefit from the surgery as to the risks of the surgery prior to undergoing it.
E.The patients who underwent coronary bypass surgery but who did not benefit from it were medically indistinguishable, prior to their surgery, from the patients who did benefit.