PrepTest 123, Section 3, Question 19
By Brandon Beaver | Published October 29, 2024
Type: Strengthen
Difficulty:
Explanations
Well, that’s one form of governmental intrusion. There are plenty others, many of which are more intrusive. Even if taxation is the most intrusive, in combination, reducing the other forms of intrusion could lower the overall amount of governmental intrusion.
A good strengthener here would be something that negates my objection, something like, “Taxation is by far the largest source of governmental intrusion.” That doesn’t complete negate my second point, about other forms in combination, but it negates the first point and significantly weakens the force of my second point.
A
Yep, this will do it. This is an assumption of the argument. The second sentence says politicians promise to solve problems with governmental assistance. The third sentence explains the intrusive effects of assistance. By adding this premise, we can guarantee that the intrusive effects of assistance are manifested.
B
This weakens for the reason that A strengthens.
C
The types of problems aren’t really relevant, because the third sentence is a premise. In effect, we have to work from, “any governmental assistance leads to a form of governmental intrusion.”
D
We only care about what happens in democracies.
E
We don’t know what they believe ought to be done.
Passage
Editor: Many candidates say that if elected they will reduce governmental intrusion into voters' lives. But voters actually elect politicians who instead promise that the government will provide assistance to solve their most pressing problems. Governmental assistance, however, costs money, and money can come only from taxes, which can be considered a form of governmental intrusion. Thus, governmental intrusion into the lives of voters will rarely be substantially reduced over time in a democracy.
Question 19
Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the editor's argument?
Politicians who win their elections usually keep their campaign promises.
Politicians never promise what they really intend to do once in office.
The most common problems people have are financial problems.
Governmental intrusion into the lives of voters is no more burdensome in nondemocratic countries than it is in democracies.
Politicians who promise to do what they actually believe ought to be done are rarely elected.