i think you're right on @lorenlacruz61059 thanks so much for your help!

i hope an instructor gives an answer soon as to how question 2 contains an argument. i don't see how "if the rate of inflation drops..." sentence is a conclusion, except for the fact that "Consequently," is tacked on the beginning. just seems like two facts existing side-by-side, neither supporting nor refuting each other, to me.