Sufficient AssumptionDiff: Hardest
Logic Breakdown
Passage Summary: To manage resources properly, the price must stop people from wasting them. This only happens if the price includes the cost of the negative side effects to society. Therefore, the price must include environmental damage.
Conclusion: Sound resource management requires that the price of a resource reflects the unintended environmental damage caused by its use.
Reasoning: Sound management requires prices to deter misuse, and prices only deter misuse if they reflect 'externalities' (unintended harmful consequences to society).
Analysis: This argument sets up a logical chain: Sound Management → Deter Misuse → Reflect Externalities. The conclusion then swaps 'externalities' for 'unintended harm to the environment.' For this conclusion to be guaranteed, we must assume that environmental harm is a type of externality. Look for an answer that bridges this gap by explicitly connecting environmental damage to the 'harmful consequences to society' mentioned in the premises.
Conclusion: Sound resource management requires that the price of a resource reflects the unintended environmental damage caused by its use.
Reasoning: Sound management requires prices to deter misuse, and prices only deter misuse if they reflect 'externalities' (unintended harmful consequences to society).
Analysis: This argument sets up a logical chain: Sound Management → Deter Misuse → Reflect Externalities. The conclusion then swaps 'externalities' for 'unintended harm to the environment.' For this conclusion to be guaranteed, we must assume that environmental harm is a type of externality. Look for an answer that bridges this gap by explicitly connecting environmental damage to the 'harmful consequences to society' mentioned in the premises.
Passage Stimulus
Passage Redacted
Unlock Full Passage23.The conclusion follows logically if which one of the following is assumed?
Correct Answer
A
A supplies the needed bridge: whatever is unintended environmental harm is unintended harm to society. Since sound management → price reflects externalities (harm to society), it follows that sound management → price reflects unintended environmental harm. The conclusion then follows.
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