Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumIdentifying Main Conclusions

Although several urban policy analysts advocate for municipal subsidies to accelerate the installation of reflective cool roofs on private residential buildings, pointing out that such roofs lower indoor cooling demands during summer months, this policy is fundamentally flawed. Cool roofs primarily reflect shortwave solar radiation during peak daylight hours, but they do little to diminish the longwave thermal radiation emitted by dense concrete infrastructure at night, which is the primary driver of dangerous nocturnal urban heat islands. Consequently, city governments seeking to reduce heat-related public health risks should allocate infrastructure funding toward expanding urban tree canopies rather than subsidizing private cool-roof installations.

Which of the following best expresses the main conclusion of the argument above?

  1. City governments aiming to mitigate heat-related public health risks should prioritize funding urban tree canopy expansion over subsidizing private cool-roof installations.Answer
  2. B
    The primary cause of dangerous nocturnal urban heat islands is longwave thermal radiation released by concrete infrastructure at night.
  3. C
    Installing reflective cool roofs on private residential buildings successfully decreases indoor cooling demands during summer months.
  4. D
    Homeowners will only adopt reflective cool roofs if local municipalities offer direct financial subsidies.
  5. E
    Municipal subsidies ought to be distributed to homeowners in order to promote the installation of reflective cool roofs.

Answer

City governments aiming to mitigate heat-related public health risks should prioritize funding urban tree canopy expansion over subsidizing private cool-roof installations.
The correct answer accurately expresses the author's final recommendation, introduced by the conclusion marker 'Consequently'. The passage builds an argument demonstrating the limitations of reflective cool roofs regarding nighttime urban heat islands, culminating in the assertion that municipal resources should be redirected toward expanding urban tree canopies.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the logical flow and locate structural transitions
The passage begins by presenting a counter-advocacy position ('Although several urban policy analysts advocate...'), refutes it, and introduces a final claim using the transition word 'Consequently'.
Conclusion indicators such as 'consequently' typically introduce the main recommendation of the author.
2
Differentiate premises and intermediate steps from the ultimate claim
The explanation of shortwave versus longwave radiation serves as evidence showing the limitation of cool roofs, which justifies the author's policy recommendation.
Evidence and intermediate reasons exist to support the main conclusion rather than stand as the final point.
3
Identify the option that captures the author's primary recommendation
The main conclusion is that city governments ought to allocate funds to tree canopies instead of cool roofs.
This captures the ultimate outcome toward which all evidence in the passage is directed.

Key Concept

Identifying Main Conclusions in Critical Reasoning Arguments
Rate this question

Topics

Identifying Main Conclusions

More questions from this topic