In Gandania, where the government has a monopoly on tobacco sales, the incidence of smoking-related health problems has risen steadily for the last twenty years. The health secretary recently proposed a series of laws aimed at curtailing tobacco use in Gandania. Profits from tobacco sales, however, account for ten percent of Gandania's annual revenues. Therefore, Gandania cannot afford to institute the proposed laws.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
GWD3-Q16: Economist: Tropicorp, which constantly seeks profitable investment opportunities, has been buying and clearing sections of tropical forest for cattle ranching, although pastures newly created there become useless for grazing after just a few years. The company has not gone into rubber tapping, even though greater profits can be made from rubber tapping, which leaves the forest intact. Thus, some environmentalists conclude that Tropicorp has not acted wholly out of economic self-interest. However, these environmentalists are probably wrong. The initial investment required for a successful rubber-tapping operation is larger than that needed for a cattle ranch. Furthermore, there is a shortage of workers employable in rubber-tapping operations, and finally, taxes are higher on profits from rubber tapping than on profits from cattle ranching.
In the economist’s argument, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?
A. The first supports the conclusion of the economist’s argument; the second calls that conclusion into question. B. The first states the conclusion of the economist’s argument; the second supports that conclusion. C. The first supports the environmentalists’ conclusion; the second states that conclusion. D. The first states the environmentalists’ conclusion; the second states the conclusion of the economist’s argument. E. Each supports the conclusion of the economist’s argument.
18. 热带雨林开发 (760提供)boldface,事实证明这确实是高分的标志,是我倒数第二题,经济学家:一个国家还是公司开发热带森林,但他们没怎么怎么做(黑体),所以环境学家们说(黑体)。。。其实这是不对的。答案是第一个是环境学家的证据,第二个是环境学家的观点 Boldface:環境學家的 Evidence, 第二個是環境學家的Point of View convincing