This is a strengthening question, indicated by the stem asking: Which one of the following, if true, lends the most support to the automakers’ current position?
Our stimulus informs us that in 1970 the United States passed an act requiring cars meet new emission standards, and automobile manufacturers declared that these standards weren’t realistic or necessary. However, the invention of the catalytic convertor allowed them to meet the new standards without an issue. Now a similar situation has reoccurred, with new standards being introduced and manufacturers declaring the standards expensive and unnecessary. The author concludes based on the similarity of the situations that a similar result will occur, and thus the automobile industry’s argument need not be heeded. It’s important that we carefully read the question stem and recognize we aren’t tasked with supporting the author, but the manufacturers. What we want to do is provide support that despite the manufacturers being incorrect in 1970 because of the catalytic convertor being invented, this time around the standards really are expensive and unnecessary. Let’s see our answer choices:
Correct Answer Choice (A) The author reasons that because the manufacturers were wrong in the past, they will be wrong again. Now we want to support that they will be correct, but what the author points out is a problem; the same situation seems to have occurred before, and the manufacturers were wrong. What this answer does is give us a reason why the situation is different now. Since the standards were raised in 1970, and are now being raised again, if this answer is true we would expect that the required technology to meet the admissions this time will be more difficult to provide economically. Put simply, the technology that would make these standards feasible like the catalytic converter did in 1970 will be more costly. This means that even if they can meet the standards this time around, it will be much more expensive, which supports the manufacturers’ position that the new standards will be overly expensive.
Answer Choice (B)This just suggests that it will be easier to meet the standards than might be expected; the opposite of our conclusion.
Answer Choice (C) If not every new standard requires new technology, then all this answer choice adds is that it might be easier to meet the new standards than it was to meet the 1970 standards. This does nothing to suggest the new standards are too expensive and not needed.
Answer Choice (D) The first problem with this answer is we have no idea how many automobiles are on the road, but even if we did all this would do is weaken the manufacturers’ claim that the new standards are unnecessary.
Answer Choice (E) Well in this case it seems they are being forced by the government! So all this conditional tells us is that the automakers will likely make changes to automotive technology that aren’t just related to profitability. This suggests they will create another piece of technology that helps meet standards, and wouldn’t support the manufacturers’ position.