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Under the new environmental directives, any regional municipality that enacts a comprehensive water conservation protocol must either increase its baseline utility rates or secure a federal sustainability grant. A municipality is eligible to secure a federal sustainability grant only if it demonstrates a verifiable reduction in agricultural runoff. However, municipalities situated in the historically drought-prone Arid Basin region are strictly prohibited by state mandate from increasing their baseline utility rates. The municipality of Oakhaven, which is situated in the Arid Basin region, has recently enacted a comprehensive water conservation protocol.

Which of the following must be true on the basis of the statements above?

  1. Oakhaven has demonstrated a verifiable reduction in agricultural runoff.Answer
  2. B
    Any municipality that demonstrates a verifiable reduction in agricultural runoff will secure a federal sustainability grant.
  3. C
    If a municipality does not enact a comprehensive water conservation protocol, it will not secure a federal sustainability grant.
  4. D
    Most municipalities situated in the Arid Basin region will not demonstrate a verifiable reduction in agricultural runoff.
  5. E
    Oakhaven enacted its comprehensive water conservation protocol in order to secure a federal sustainability grant.

Answer

The correct inference is that Oakhaven has demonstrated a verifiable reduction in agricultural runoff.
The correct answer accurately synthesizes the conditional statements provided in the stimulus. Because Oakhaven enacted the protocol, it is required to either increase its utility rates or secure a grant. Since state law prohibits Arid Basin municipalities from increasing rates, Oakhaven is left with only one option: securing the grant. Securing the grant inherently requires a verifiable reduction in agricultural runoff, meaning Oakhaven must have met this requirement.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Map the first conditional rule.
Enact protocol → Increase rates OR Secure grant.
To establish the required consequences for any municipality enacting the protocol.
2
Map the second conditional rule regarding grants.
Secure grant → Demonstrate reduction in runoff.
To identify the necessary condition for receiving a federal grant.
3
Apply the geographic constraint to Oakhaven.
Oakhaven is in the Arid Basin, so it cannot increase its baseline utility rates.
To eliminate one of the two possible outcomes of enacting the protocol.
4
Chain the logic together for Oakhaven.
Oakhaven enacted the protocol, but cannot increase rates. Therefore, it must secure a grant. To secure a grant, it must demonstrate a reduction in runoff.
To derive the final valid inference that must be true.

Key Concept

Chaining Conditional Statements and Eliminating Alternatives
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