PrepTest 81, Section 2, Question 6
Astronomer: This country's space agency is currently building a new space telescope that is, unfortunately, way over budget. Some people argue that the project should be canceled. But that would be a mistake. If we cancel it now, all the money that has already been spent—which is more than the additional cost required to complete the project—would be wasted.
Astronomer: This country's space agency is currently building a new space telescope that is, unfortunately, way over budget. Some people argue that the project should be canceled. But that would be a mistake. If we cancel it now, all the money that has already been spent—which is more than the additional cost required to complete the project—would be wasted.
Astronomer: This country's space agency is currently building a new space telescope that is, unfortunately, way over budget. Some people argue that the project should be canceled. But that would be a mistake. If we cancel it now, all the money that has already been spent—which is more than the additional cost required to complete the project—would be wasted.
Astronomer: This country's space agency is currently building a new space telescope that is, unfortunately, way over budget. Some people argue that the project should be canceled. But that would be a mistake. If we cancel it now, all the money that has already been spent—which is more than the additional cost required to complete the project—would be wasted.
Which one of the following principles, if valid, would most help to justify the astronomer's argument?
A government agency should not cancel a partially completed project unless the amount of money already spent on the project is small relative to the agency's overall budget.
If more than half of the total cost of a project has already been spent, then the project should be completed.
If it becomes clear that the total cost of a project will be more than twice the amount originally budgeted, then the project should be canceled.
One should not commit additional funding to a project just because one has spent considerable money on it in the past.
In determining which scientific projects to fund, governments should give priority to the projects that are most likely to lead to important new discoveries.
Explanations
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