Recently, local business leaders argued that lowering municipal corporate taxes would automatically spur job creation in the city. However, this argument ignores the fact that businesses base hiring decisions primarily on consumer demand rather than local tax rates. In fact, previous tax cuts in neighboring districts failed to generate any measurable employment growth. Therefore, the proposal to lower corporate taxes is unlikely to achieve its intended goal of increasing local employment.
In the argument above, the two boldface portions play which of the following roles?
- The first is a claim presented to undermine a position advocated by local business leaders; the second is the author's main conclusion.Answer
- BThe first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second is a premise offered to support that conclusion.
- CThe first is a consideration offered in support of the business leaders' proposal; the second is a counterargument to that proposal.
- DThe first is a position advocated by local business leaders; the second is an intermediate finding used to support that position.
- EThe first is a factual finding that supports the proposal; the second is a qualifying statement that limits the scope of the main conclusion.
Answer
The first boldface statement is a claim presented to undermine a position advocated by local business leaders, and the second boldface statement is the author's main conclusion.
The passage begins by presenting a position held by local business leaders. The author then introduces a pivot word ('However') followed by the first boldface statement, which introduces a fact meant to challenge and undermine the business leaders' position. After providing additional evidence, the author concludes with the second boldface statement, introduced by 'Therefore', which represents the argument's main conclusion.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Analyzing Boldface Statement Roles and Argument Structure