Consumer Advocate: There is no Doubt that the Government is Responsible for the Increased Cost of Gasoline

Question: Consumer advocate: There is no doubt that the government is responsible for the increased cost of gasoline, because the government’s policies have significantly increased consumer demand for fuel, and as a result of increasing demand, the price of gasoline has risen steadily.

Which one of the following is an assumption required by the consumer advocate’s argument?

(A) The government can bear responsibility for that which it indirectly causes.
(B) The government is responsible for some unforeseen consequences of its policies.
(C) Consumer demand for gasoline cannot increase without causing gasoline prices to increase.
(D) The government has an obligation to ensure that demand for fuel does not increase excessively.
(E) If the government pursues policies that do not increase the demand for fuel, gasoline prices tend to remain stable

Answer: A

Explanation:

A GMAT Critical Reasoning section comprises some facts and statements. GMAT critical reasoning tests the reasoning, logical and analytical thinking abilities of the candidate. The candidate has to deduce the correct option by finding the logically correct argument or by eliminating the irrelevant arguments.

The statement states - Consumer advocate: There is no doubt that the government is responsible for the increased cost of gasoline, because the government’s policies have significantly increased consumer demand for fuel, and as a result of increasing demand, the price of gasoline has risen steadily.

Which one of the following is an assumption required by the consumer advocate’s argument?

1. Correct. As the increase in gasoline prices is the consequence of government policies, the author assumes that the government is responsible for its policies' indirect consequences
2. This choice is somewhat true and relevant to the argument. However, we can't know whether the increase in gasoline prices is an unforeseen consequence of government policies or not. The passage didn't mention anything about the forecast of the government. Choice A is better.
3. This choice is irrelevant to the argument because the argument did state that the increase in demand for gasoline caused the increase in gasoline prices.
4. This choice is irrelevant.
5. This is a really good trap. In choice E, if demand for fuel didn't increase, gasoline prices tend to remain, so the government isn't responsible for the increased cost of gasoline. However, the gasoline prices aren't necessarily stable. What if the prices go down? in case the demand didn't increase but decreased instead.

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