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Difficulty: EasyEvaluating Intermediate Conclusions

The city council recently passed a law heavily restricting commercial development in the historic downtown area. Because the historic downtown area has traditionally been the primary source of new commercial growth in the city, the total number of new businesses opening in the city will decrease significantly next year. As a result, the city's overall commercial tax revenue will almost certainly decline.

Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the argument by the claim that the total number of new businesses opening in the city will decrease significantly next year?

  1. It is a conclusion for which support is provided and which in turn is used to support the main conclusion of the argument.Answer
  2. B
    It is the main conclusion of the argument.
  3. C
    It is a basic premise of the argument, presented as a fact that requires no further justification.
  4. D
    It is purely background information providing context, rather than an active structural part of the argument.
  5. E
    It is an unsupported assumption that relies on outside information about commercial growth.

Answer

The statement acts as a conclusion for which support is provided (by the first two claims) and which is in turn used to support the main conclusion (that tax revenue will decline).
The correct answer accurately describes an intermediate conclusion. The statement is supported by the facts about the new law and the historic district's role in commercial growth. It then serves as the reason for the final claim that tax revenue will decline.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main conclusion of the argument.
The main conclusion is 'the city's overall commercial tax revenue will almost certainly decline.'
This is the final point the author is trying to prove, signaled by the conclusion indicator 'As a result'.
2
Analyze the statement in question to determine how it relates to the rest of the argument.
The statement is supported by the preceding text and is used to support the main conclusion.
The word 'Because' indicates that the previous claims are premises supporting this statement. In turn, this statement leads to the final 'As a result' claim.
3
Define the structural role based on the analysis.
The structural role is an intermediate (or subsidiary) conclusion.
Any claim that is both a conclusion of earlier premises and a premise for a later conclusion is an intermediate conclusion.

Key Concept

Evaluating Intermediate Conclusions
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Evaluating Intermediate Conclusions

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