请教补充材料P140,Q13

音乐咖啡猫

While Governor Verdant has been in office, the state's budget has increased by an average of 6 percent each year. While the previous governor was in office, the state's budget increased by an average of 11.5percent each year.Obviously, the austere budgets during Governor Verdant's term have caused the slowdown in the growth in state spending. Which of the following, if true, would most serioiusly weaken the conclusion drawn above?

A.The rate of inflation in the state averaged 10 percent each year during the previous governor's term in office and 3 percent each year during Verdant's term.

B.Both federal and state income tax rates have been lowered considerably during Verdant's term in office.

C.In each year of Verdant's term in office, the state's budget has shown some increase in spending over the previous year.

D.During Verdant's term in office, the state has either discontinued or begun to charge private citizens for numerous services that the state offerd free to citizens during the previous governor's term.

E.During the previous govenor's term in office, the state introduced several so-called "austerity" budgets intended to reduce the growth in state spending.

我选的是E， 答案是A，自己研究了一下，实在没法看出A与文章的相关性来，请DX们指点迷津。

[此贴子已经被作者于2004-8-31 19:55:59编辑过]

joe11

A. Establishes a new reason to weaken the conclusion.

不是 austere budgets  的缘故，而是 rate of inflation 使得 budget increment 减缓。

音乐咖啡猫

that is my question. a inflation how to effect the increasement of budget?

joe11

Assume your budget was 100 last year,  inflation is 8%, in order to have the same purchase power, you will have to budget  108.  

Assume your budget was 100 last year, inflation is 20%, in order to have the same purchase power, you will have to budget  120!

what doesn't change is the real purchsing power.