A
The claim that advertising persuades people that they need things that they merely want rests on a fuzzy distinction.
B
Many critics of consumerism insist that advertising attempts to blur people’s ability to distinguish between wants and needs.
C
There is nothing wrong with advertising that tries to persuade people that they need certain consumer goods.
D
Many critics of consumerism fail to realize that certain things are essential to human happiness.
E
Critics of consumerism often use fuzzy distinctions to support their claims.
A
takes for granted that if a condition would be necessary for the evolution of life as we know it, then such life could not have evolved anywhere that this condition does not hold
B
fails to address adequately the possibility that there are conditions necessary for the evolution of life in addition to the presence of liquid water
C
takes for granted that life is likely to be present on Europa if, but only if, life evolved on Europa
D
overlooks the possibility that there could be unfamiliar forms of life that have evolved without the presence of liquid water
E
takes for granted that no conditions on Europa other than the supposed presence of liquid water could have accounted for the data transmitted by the spacecraft
A
Gigantic planes currently being developed will have enough space in them to hold shops and lounges as well as passenger seating.
B
The additional space in the gigantic planes currently being developed is more likely to be filled with passenger seating than with shops and lounges.
C
The number of passengers flying the air-traffic system is expected to triple within 20 years.
D
In 20 years, it will be impossible for airports to accommodate enough normal-sized planes to carry the number of passengers that are expected to be flying then.
E
In 20 years, most airline passengers will be flying in gigantic passenger planes.
Economist: If the belief were to become widespread that losing one’s job is not a sign of personal shortcomings but instead an effect of impersonal social forces (which is surely correct), there would be growth in the societal demand for more government control of the economy to protect individuals from these forces, just as the government now protects them from military invasion. Such extensive government control of the economy would lead to an economic disaster, however.
Summary
The stimulus gives us a causal chain. If the belief that getting fired is a product of social forces becomes widespread, that will increase demands for more extensive government control of the economy. If the government begins to control the economy more extensively, that will lead to economic disaster. We’re also told that the belief that getting fired is a product of social forces is accurate.
Strongly Supported Conclusions
Some accurate beliefs that become widespread might lead to negative consequences.
A
Increased knowledge of the causes of job loss could lead to economic disaster.
Strongly supported. We’re told that the belief social forces are responsible for job losses is correct. We also know that this belief, if widespread, can lead to economic disaster. So, if more people start to hold this correct belief, that might lead to economic disaster.
B
An individual’s belief in his or her own abilities is the only reliable protection against impersonal social forces.
Unsupported. We don’t know what can reliably protect against social forces. If anything, this is antisupported, because we know job losses aren’t caused by personal shortcomings. This suggests even if people didn’t have those shortcomings, that wouldn’t prevent job loss.
C
Governments should never interfere with economic forces.
Unsupported. Although extensive government control can lead to economic disaster, that doesn’t suggest other, less extensive, kinds of government involvement with the economy would be harmful.
D
Societal demand for government control of the economy is growing.
Unsupported. The stimulus says this will happen if the belief mentioned becomes widespread. But we don’t know if the belief is becoming more widespread.
E
In general, people should feel no more responsible for economic disasters than for military invasions.
Unsupported. Military invasions are mentioned as something that the government protects us against. But there’s no comparison made between military invasions and economic disasters concerning the responsibility people should feel.