[求助]一道boldface

Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on property. In place of this

system, the city plans to introduce a sales tax of three percent on all retail sales in the city.

Critics protest that three percent of current retail sales falls short of the amount

raised for schools by property taxes. The critics are correct on this point. Nevertheless,

implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools.

Several large retailers have selected Aroca City as the site for huge new stores, and these

are certain to draw large numbers of shoppers from neighboring municipalities, where

sales are taxed at rates of six percent and more. In consequence, retail sales in Aroca

City are bound to increase substantially.

In the argument given, the two potions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A. The first is an objection that has been raised against a certain plan; the second is a

prediction that, if accurate, undermines the force of that objection.

B. The first is a criticism, endorsed by the argument, of a funding plan; the second is

a point the argument makes in favor of adopting an alternative plan.

C. The first is a criticism, endorsed by the argument, of a funding plan; the second is

the main reason cited by the argument for its endorsement of the criticism.

D. The first is a claim that the argument seeks to refute; the second is the main point

used by the argument to show that the claim is false.

E. The first is a claim that the argument accepts with certain reservations; the second

presents that claim in a rewarding that is not subject to those reservations.

I choose A; answer is D;

Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on property. In place of this

system, the city plans to introduce a sales tax of three percent on all retail sales in the city.

Critics protest that three percent of current retail sales falls short of the amount

raised for schools by property taxes. The critics are correct on this point. Nevertheless,

implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools (Conclusion or main point)??.

Several large retailers have selected Aroca City as the site for huge new stores, and these

are certain to draw large numbers of shoppers from neighboring municipalities, where

sales are taxed at rates of six percent and more. In consequence, retail sales in Aroca

偶也选A，不过做这种题目实在是没感觉。

NN请指点BOLDFACE题目应有的思路。谢谢！

LESMM. According to my understanding to boldface, there is only one conclusion to each argument, the facts and evidences cited are either to support or fight against the conclusion, or lead to a premise or recommendation to reach the conclusion.

Therefore, we can seprate the choice into 10 parts, each choice consists of two parts. either part of a choice is wrong, the choice must be wrong.

To be discussed....

A is right, D is wrong in that the first part is endorsed by author.

The author agree to the first part which objects the city's plan, the second part is a prediction which weak the power of the first part.

E.g. assuming we have evidences E1, E2, and E3, andwe want to reach fincal conclusion FC.  For whatever reason, E1and E2 can not be used directly tosupport FC.  So, we introduce intermediate conclusion IC, andfirst use E1 and E2 to draw IC, then use IC and E3 to draw FC.

So clear! Thanks robert!

啊？？我选的是D。