EXPLANATION QUESTION


This argument contains one of GRE's favorite flaw patterns: The author makes a comparison between Country A and Country B and assumes that those two countries are the same in all relevant respects. Any time you see a comparison flaw, the answer will address whether the comparison is a fair one; in this weaken question, the answer must show that the countries are different in a relevant respect. Choice (C) does so: If the types of coal that the two countries use always differ, it is possible that the regulations on emissions have a negative effect on Country A's industrial production but not on Country B's industrial production. While (A) also provides a difference between the two countries, the link connecting the type of airport, the regulations, and industrial production is less strong than that connecting coal, the regulations, and industrial production in (C). Choices (B)and (E) do not establish any difference between the two countries. Choice (D)establishes a similarity between the countries and so does not help explain the differences in industrial production.