Question

Difficulty: EasyStatement and Arguments

Read the following statement and the two arguments that follow carefully. Determine which of the arguments is strong with respect to the statement.

Statement: Should the state government install solar-powered microgrids in all rural public primary schools?

Arguments:
I. Yes, uninterrupted clean electricity during school hours will facilitate digital learning and improve educational outcomes in remote areas.
II. No, solar energy is entirely ineffective because it cannot produce power during nighttime, making it useless for educational facilities.

Which of the options correctly identifies the strength of the given arguments?

  1. Only argument I is strongAnswer
  2. B
    Only argument II is strong
  3. C
    Both argument I and argument II are strong
  4. D
    Neither argument I nor argument II is strong

Answer

Only argument I is strong because it provides a realistic, practical justification linking daytime solar power to improved rural digital learning.
The choice stating that only argument I is strong is correct. Argument I presents a clear, realistic benefit of installing solar microgrids, directly addressing daytime energy needs for rural digital learning. Argument II is weak because primary schools operate during the daytime, so the lack of nighttime solar generation does not invalidate its utility.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze Argument I for relevance and logical soundness
Argument I is strong because public primary schools operate during the day, making solar energy directly beneficial for running digital tools and enhancing learning equity.
A strong argument must be directly relevant to the statement and backed by sound practical logic.
2
Analyze Argument II for logical flaws or extreme assumptions
Argument II is weak because calling solar power useless due to nighttime inactivity overlooks the operational daytime schedule of primary schools.
Arguments containing extreme generalizations or irrelevant conditions fail the test of logical strength.
3
Synthesize the findings to select the correct evaluation option
Only Argument I is logically strong.
Argument I meets all criteria for a strong policy argument, whereas Argument II relies on flawed reasoning.

Key Concept

Evaluation of Strong and Weak Arguments in Public Policy Statements
Estimated Time:50s
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