The public in the United States has in the past been conditioned to support a substantial defense budget by the threa...

Deidra-McCall May 12, 2019

Could someone please answer my question above?

Victoria May 12, 2019

Hi @Deidra-McCall,

Weaken questions where the answer choices are presented in this way can be difficult as they are so abstract and removed from the passage itself. This is why it is so important to develop a thorough understanding of what the passage is arguing and how it is arguing this before going through the answer choices.

This passage concludes that it is now doubtful that the public will support an adequate defence budget. The evidence presented for this is that past public support for a substantial defence budget has hinged upon the continued threat of the Eastern bloc. However, this threat is now dissolving, raising questions about the potential for continued public support.

Now let's go through the answer choices.

A is incorrect as the passage does not discuss the public's awareness of their own manipulation. The passage is merely stating that the public has been conditioned to support this defence budget but, with changing conditions, this support may no longer hold. There is no indication that the public is aware of their own conditioning or that the dissolution of the threat will make them aware of this.

B is incorrect because the evidence presented in the passage suggests that there is a causal connection between the public's support of the defence budget and the threat of confrontation with the Eastern bloc.

C is incorrect because the passage does not assume by fact what it seeks to establish by reasoning. It is seeking to establish that as the Eastern bloc dissolves, it may become more difficult to maintain public support of the defence budget. The evidence it presents to support this is that the public has been conditioned to support the defence budget due to the threat of the Eastern bloc.

D is incorrect because the passage does provide a reason for the judgment it reaches. The judgment it reaches is that the public's continued support of the defence budget is now subject to doubt. The reasoning it presents for this is that past support has hinged upon the threat of the Eastern bloc, but the threat is now dissolving.

Finally, E is correct because the use of the term "adequate" contradicts the above use of "substantial." A "substantial defence budget" implies that there is extra funding being provided for defence because of the threat of the Eastern bloc. If the threat is dissolving, it can be assumed that the public will no longer support this excess spending; however, there is no indication that spending less on defence will make the budget no longer adequate.

Hope this is helpful! Let us know if you have any further questions.