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Difficulty: HardAnalyzing Bolded Statement Roles

Many municipal economists contend that implementing a peak-hour congestion fee in the metropolitan center will harm local merchants by diverting price-sensitive consumers to suburban shopping districts. However, empirical data from cities that recently enacted similar pricing schemes demonstrate that pedestrian traffic and retail revenue in downtown districts consistently rose following implementation. This increase occurs because reduced traffic congestion enhances the overall shopping environment, making the area more attractive to visitors. Consequently, the claim that a peak-hour congestion fee will inevitably degrade the economic viability of downtown retail businesses is unjustified.

In the argument above, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?

  1. A
    The first is a main position that the author seeks to establish; the second is factual evidence cited to support that position.
  2. B
    The first presents evidence supporting a judgment made by municipal economists; the second is a subsidiary conclusion drawn to support a broader policy proposal.
  3. The first presents factual evidence that the author uses to undermine an opposing view; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.Answer
  4. D
    The first provides general background information establishing the context of the economic debate; the second is a premise supporting an opposing viewpoint.
  5. E
    The first is an objection that has been raised against the author's primary claim; the second is an intermediate conclusion that refutes that objection.

Answer

The first boldfaced statement presents factual evidence that the author uses to undermine an opposing view, and the second boldfaced statement is the main conclusion of the argument.
The passage begins by presenting a position held by municipal economists (that congestion pricing will harm local merchants). The first boldfaced statement introduces empirical evidence (data on pedestrian traffic and retail revenue) that directly counters this economists' position. The author then provides an explanatory bridge (reduced traffic enhances the shopping environment) leading directly to the second boldfaced statement. Introduced by the conclusion signal 'Consequently', the second boldfaced statement expresses the author's primary takeaway: that the economists' claim is unjustified. Thus, the option correctly stating that the first is factual evidence used to undermine an opposing view and the second is the main conclusion is correct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structural role of the first boldfaced statement.
The statement presents empirical data showing that pedestrian traffic and retail revenue rose in cities with congestion fees. This serves as premise/evidence countering the economists' position.
Identifying whether a statement is evidence, context, or a conclusion is essential for mapping argument structure.
2
Analyze the structural role of the second boldfaced statement.
Introduced by 'Consequently', the statement asserts that the claim regarding the economic degradation of downtown businesses is unjustified. This is the author's primary conclusion.
Transition words like 'Consequently' indicate the final logical claim supported by the preceding evidence and reasoning.
3
Match the identified roles with the options.
The option stating that the first boldface is factual evidence used to undermine an opposing view and the second is the main conclusion accurately captures both roles.
Precision in identifying both the functional role (evidence vs. conclusion) and the alignment (author stance vs. opposing stance) isolates the correct answer.

Key Concept

Boldface Argument Structure Analysis
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Topics

Analyzing Bolded Statement Roles

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