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Question

Difficulty: EasyIdentifying Premises and Evidence

Consider the following argument:

To reduce carbon emissions from commuter travel, the city council recently subsidized monthly public transit passes for residents. Since the subsidies were introduced, total sales of public transit passes have increased by 25 percent. Therefore, the subsidy program has successfully reduced carbon emissions from commuter travel in the city.

True or False: In the argument above, the statement 'total sales of public transit passes have increased by 25 percent' functions as a premise supporting the main conclusion.

Answer: Answer

Answer

True. The statement functions as a premise because it provides empirical evidence used to support the author's main conclusion.
The statement 'total sales of public transit passes have increased by 25 percent' provides the empirical backing that the author uses to argue for the success of the subsidy program. Because it offers evidence in support of the conclusion, it functions as a premise.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main conclusion of the argument.
The main conclusion is that the subsidy program has successfully reduced carbon emissions from commuter travel in the city.
This claim is introduced by the conclusion indicator 'Therefore' and represents the primary claim the author seeks to establish.
2
Determine the functional role of the target statement.
The statement presents factual data showing a 25 percent increase in public transit pass sales following the subsidies.
The author introduces this data specifically to offer evidence that the subsidy initiative led to increased transit adoption.
3
Evaluate whether the statement fits the definition of a premise.
Since the statement provides supporting evidence for the main conclusion, it is a premise.
A premise is a claim or piece of evidence offered in an argument to support a conclusion.

Key Concept

Identifying Premises and Evidence
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Topics

Identifying Premises and Evidence

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