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Difficulty: MediumIdentifying Premises and Evidence

Over the past decade, several city governments launched financial incentives to encourage commercial buildings to install energy-efficient reflective roofing. Supporters of the program argue that the incentive program directly reduced municipal energy demand. They point out that total electricity consumption across the commercial sector declined by 12 percent after the incentives were introduced. However, independent economists note that a severe industrial recession during those same years caused widespread commercial vacancies, which accounted for virtually all of the decline in power usage.

In the argument above, which of the following statements functions as the primary evidence offered by the supporters of the program to justify their conclusion?

  1. The report that total electricity consumption across the commercial sector declined by 12 percent after the incentives were introduced.Answer
  2. B
    The statement that several city governments launched financial incentives to encourage commercial buildings to install reflective roofing.
  3. C
    The assertion that the financial incentive program was directly responsible for reducing municipal energy demand.
  4. D
    The finding that a severe industrial recession occurred during the same period as the incentive program.
  5. E
    The explanation that widespread commercial vacancies accounted for virtually all of the decline in power usage.

Answer

The statement reporting that total electricity consumption across the commercial sector declined by 12 percent after the incentives were introduced.
The correct answer accurately identifies the factual data offered by the supporters. In the passage, the supporters present the 12 percent drop in commercial electricity consumption as the empirical evidence supporting their conclusion that the program reduced energy demand.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target perspective and claim
The target position is that of the program's supporters, whose conclusion is that the incentive program directly reduced municipal energy demand.
Understanding whose position is being analyzed is essential for isolating the relevant argument components.
2
Locate the premise offered in support of that specific conclusion
The supporters point to the 12 percent decline in commercial sector electricity consumption as the factual evidence backing their claim.
A premise is the factual claim, data, or reason offered to justify or support a conclusion.
3
Distinguish the supporters' evidence from context and counterarguments
Background information establishes the setting, while the recession and vacancy details form the economists' counterargument.
Critical reasoning requires separating supporting premises from background context and opposing counter-evidence.

Key Concept

Identifying Premises and Evidence
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Topics

Identifying Premises and Evidence

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