求助！！！一道 很纠结的题目！！！！！

jameshzd

Gortland  has long been narrowly self-sufficient in both grain and meat. However, as per capita in Gortland has risen toward the world average, per capita consumption of meat has also risen toward the world average, and it takes several pounds of grain to produce one pound of meat. Therefore. since per capita income continue to rise, whereas domestic grain production will not increase, Gortland will soon have to import either grain or meat or both.

which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A) the total acreage devoted to grain production in Gortland will not decrease substantially.
B) the population of Gortland has remained relatively constant during the country's year of growing properity.
C) the per capita consumption of meat in Gortland is roughly the same across all income levels.
D) in Gortland. neither meat nor grain is subject to government price controls.
E) people in Gortland who increase their consumption of meat will not radically decrease their consumption of  grain.
有哪位G友能解释下这道题的？答案选E，主要是不明白Per capita 是什么意思？ 而且为什么选E？

jameshzd

Gortland  has long been narrowly self-sufficient in both grain and meat. However, as per capita income in Gortland has risen toward the world average, per capita consumption of meat has also risen toward the world average, and it takes several pounds of grain to produce one pound of meat. Therefore. since per capita income continue to rise, whereas domestic grain production will not increase, Gortland will soon have to import either grain or meat or both.

which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A) the total acreage devoted to grain production in Gortland will not decrease substantially.
B) the population of Gortland has remained relatively constant during the country's year of growing properity.
C) the per capita consumption of meat in Gortland is roughly the same across all income levels.
D) in Gortland. neither meat nor grain is subject to government price controls.
E) people in Gortland who increase their consumption of meat will not radically decrease their consumption of  grain.
有哪位G友能解释下这道题的？答案选E，主要是不明白Per capita 是什么意思？ 而且为什么选E？

-- by 会员 jameshzd (2011/5/26 20:12:20)

jameshzd

请看二楼的题目，一楼的题目我打掉了一个 income，欢迎G友能来讨论下啊!

sdcar2010

per capita: per person.

The conclusion of the argument says that since the average income and comsumption of meat has risen while the domestic grain production stays flat, G will soon have to import either grain or meat or both.

Necessary assumption. Use negation.

If you negate E, you get:
people in Gortland who increase their consumption of meat will radically decrease their consumption of grain.
If this is true, then the total consumption of grain might decrease dramatically in G if those who eat more meat would eat far less grain. Therefore, the might not be any need to import either grain or meat or both. Thus, the argument falls apart if you negate E.

jameshzd

thanks! the phrase"not radically decrease" is always difficult for us to catch its meaning at first glance, the method of negation will be better!