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Letter to the editor: The Senate recently voted to keep the estate tax, a levy imposed on the transfer of property of the estate of a deceased person to a living person or organization. The primary argument in favor of the estate tax is that it is a necessary component of a system of progressive taxation. Not only is this argument faulty, but the estate tax is also lousy for the economy. Primarily, the estate tax directly penalizes savings and investment, two activities that are vital to create and sustain jobs. Furthermore, the estate tax undermines a strong work ethic by devaluing the link between work and reward.
In the letter to the editor, the two sections in boldface play which of the following roles?
  • a)
    The first is a fact in support of the author’s position; the second is that position.
  • b)
    The first is a consideration that the author argues is irrelevant; the second is a consideration in support of the author’s argument.
  • c)
    The first is an assumption that contradicts the author’s position; the second is a premise in support of the author’s position.
  • d)
    The first is a conclusion that stands in opposition to the author’s position; the second is the author’s position.
  • e)
    The first is a premise that clarifies the author’s position; the second is a prediction that the author believes will hold true.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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Letter to the editor:The Senate recently voted to keep the estate tax,...
The author believes that the estate tax has a detrimental effect on the economy. This opinion, which is conveyed in the second boldface portion, stands in contrast to the opinion of estate tax proponents (that it is a necessary component of a progressive taxation system).
(A) The first boldface portion is not a fact but an opinion cited by those in favor of the estate tax. The second boldface portion is, in fact, the author’s position that the estate tax is lousy for the economy.
(B) The author disagrees with the first boldface portion but does not argue that it is irrelevant. The second boldface portion is the author’s position itself, rather than a consideration in support of this position.
(C) The first boldface portion is not an assumption but a conclusion in favor of the estate tax. The second boldface portion is the author’s position itself, rather than a premise in support of this position.
(D) Correct. The first boldface portion is a conclusion in favor of the estate tax, a position that is in opposition to the author’s position. The second boldface portion is the author’s position that the estate tax is lousy for the economy.
(E) The first boldface portion does not clarify the author’s position; instead, it opposes the author’s position. The second boldface portion is not a prediction but the author’s conclusion concerning the estate tax.
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It is true that developments since the last war in Britain have so increased the progressive character of the income tax as to make the burden of taxation progressive throughout and that, through redistributive expenditure on subsidies and services, the income of the very lowest classes has been increased... by as much as 22 percent. But the latter development is little dependent on the present high rates of progression but is financed mainly by the contributions of the middle and upper ranges of the middle class.All arguments in support of progression can be used to justify any degree of progression. Its advocates may realize that beyond a certain point the adverse effects on the efficiency of the economic system may become so serious as to make it inexpedient to push it any further. But the argument based on the presumed justice of progression provides for no limitation, as has often been admitted by its supporters, before all incomes above a certain figure are confiscated and those below left untaxed. Unlike proportionality, progression provides no principle that tells us what the relative burden of different persons ought to be. It is no more than a rejection of proportionality in favor of a discrimination against the wealthy without any criterion for limiting the extent of this discrimination. Because there is no real rate of progression that can be demonstrated by formula, it is only the newness of the principle that has prevented its being carried at once to punitive rates. But there is no reason why a little more than before should not always be represented as just and reasonable.It is the great merit of proportional taxation that it provides a rule which is likely to be agreed upon by those who will pay absolutely more and those who will pay absolutely less and which, once accepted, raises no problem of a separate rule applying only to a minority. Even if progressive taxation does not name the individuals to be taxed at a higher rate, it discriminates by introducing a distinction that aims at shifting the burden from those who determine the rates onto others. In no sense can a progressive scale of taxation be regarded as a general rule applicable equally to all. In no sense can it be said that a tax of 20 percent on one persons income and a tax of 75 percent on the larger income of another person are equal. Progression provides no criterion whatever of what is and what is not to be regarded as just. It indicates no halting point for its application, and the good judgment of the people on which its defenders are usually driven to rely as the only safeguard is nothing more than the current state of opinion shaped by past policy.Q.Which of the following is an effect of the progressive-income tax?

While there is no guarantee that increased investment in achieving energy independence will solve all of America’s unemployment problems, the results so far have demonstrated that it will definitely help the cause. Under President Obamas watch, such increased investment has so far created 1.5 million jobs and has demonstrated the potential to create many more.After a four-decade decline in oil production, the U.S. is now producing enough oil to serve more than half of our oil needs. This has the potential to free us from our addiction to foreign-sourced barrels, particularly if we utilize our dramatically larger and cheaper reserves of natural gas, which now costs the equivalent of less than $15 per barrel, versus the $100-plus per barrel of oil we import from the Middle East. The money saved by increased use of natural gas has helped in greater investments and has created more than 75,000 jobs domestically.Moreover, the president’s policies have motivated companies to invest more in clean energy to the extent that American companies make over 75% of all venture investments in clean technologies. Overall, because of U.S. public and private investments in clean energy—including renewables, efficiency, transportation, and infrastructure—the clean economy grew by 8.3% from 2008 to 2009, even during the depths of the recession. Even though several technologies, such as solar power, are still not as cost-competitive as imported oil, expanding these clean-energy investments is good economics as they will help preserve and expand Americas middle class, because energy investments are a particularly effective method of "insourcing" manufacturing jobs, which in turn spur jobs in invention, installation, and maintenance.Q. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with

While there is no guarantee that increased investment in achieving energy independence will solve all of Americas unemployment problems, the results so far have demonstrated that it will definitely help the cause. Under President Obamas watch, such increased investment has so far created 1.5 million jobs and has demonstrated the potential to create many more.After a four-decade decline in oil production, the U.S. is now producing enough oil to serve more than half of our oil needs. This has the potential to free us from our addiction to foreign-sourced barrels, particularly if we utilize our dramatically larger and cheaper reserves of natural gas, which now costs the equivalent of less than $15 per barrel, versus the $100-plus per barrel of oil we import from the Middle East. The money saved by increased use of natural gas has helped in greater investments and has created more than 75,000 jobs domestically.Moreover, the presidents policies have motivated companies to invest more in clean energy to the extent that American companies make over 75% of all venture investments in clean technologies. Overall, because of U.S. public and private investments in clean energyincluding renewables, efficiency, transportation, and infrastructurethe clean economy grew by 8.3% from 2008 to 2009, even during the depths of the recession. Even though several technologies, such as solar power, are still not as cost-competitive as imported oil, expanding these clean-energy investments is good economics as they will help preserve and expand Americas middle class, because energy investments are a particularly effective method of insourcing manufacturing jobs, which in turn spur jobs in invention, installation, and maintenance.From the passage which of the following can be inferred about imported oil?

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Letter to the editor:The Senate recently voted to keep the estate tax, a levy imposed on the transfer of property of the estate of a deceased person to a living person or organization. The primary argument in favor of the estate tax is thatit is a necessary component of a system of progressive taxation. Not only is this argument faulty, butthe estate tax is also lousy for the economy. Primarily, the estate tax directly penalizes savings and investment, two activities that are vital to create and sustain jobs. Furthermore, the estate tax undermines a strong work ethic by devaluing the link between work and reward.In the letter to the editor, the two sections in boldface play which of the following roles?a)The first is a fact in support of the author’s position; the second is that position.b)The first is a consideration that the author argues is irrelevant; the second is a consideration in support of the author’s argument.c)The first is an assumption that contradicts the author’s position; the second is a premise in support of the author’s position.d)The first is a conclusion that stands in opposition to the author’s position; the second is the author’s position.e)The first is a premise that clarifies the author’s position; the second is a prediction that the author believes will hold true.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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Letter to the editor:The Senate recently voted to keep the estate tax, a levy imposed on the transfer of property of the estate of a deceased person to a living person or organization. The primary argument in favor of the estate tax is thatit is a necessary component of a system of progressive taxation. Not only is this argument faulty, butthe estate tax is also lousy for the economy. Primarily, the estate tax directly penalizes savings and investment, two activities that are vital to create and sustain jobs. Furthermore, the estate tax undermines a strong work ethic by devaluing the link between work and reward.In the letter to the editor, the two sections in boldface play which of the following roles?a)The first is a fact in support of the author’s position; the second is that position.b)The first is a consideration that the author argues is irrelevant; the second is a consideration in support of the author’s argument.c)The first is an assumption that contradicts the author’s position; the second is a premise in support of the author’s position.d)The first is a conclusion that stands in opposition to the author’s position; the second is the author’s position.e)The first is a premise that clarifies the author’s position; the second is a prediction that the author believes will hold true.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? for GMAT 2024 is part of GMAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the GMAT exam syllabus. Information about Letter to the editor:The Senate recently voted to keep the estate tax, a levy imposed on the transfer of property of the estate of a deceased person to a living person or organization. The primary argument in favor of the estate tax is thatit is a necessary component of a system of progressive taxation. Not only is this argument faulty, butthe estate tax is also lousy for the economy. Primarily, the estate tax directly penalizes savings and investment, two activities that are vital to create and sustain jobs. Furthermore, the estate tax undermines a strong work ethic by devaluing the link between work and reward.In the letter to the editor, the two sections in boldface play which of the following roles?a)The first is a fact in support of the author’s position; the second is that position.b)The first is a consideration that the author argues is irrelevant; the second is a consideration in support of the author’s argument.c)The first is an assumption that contradicts the author’s position; the second is a premise in support of the author’s position.d)The first is a conclusion that stands in opposition to the author’s position; the second is the author’s position.e)The first is a premise that clarifies the author’s position; the second is a prediction that the author believes will hold true.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Letter to the editor:The Senate recently voted to keep the estate tax, a levy imposed on the transfer of property of the estate of a deceased person to a living person or organization. The primary argument in favor of the estate tax is thatit is a necessary component of a system of progressive taxation. Not only is this argument faulty, butthe estate tax is also lousy for the economy. Primarily, the estate tax directly penalizes savings and investment, two activities that are vital to create and sustain jobs. Furthermore, the estate tax undermines a strong work ethic by devaluing the link between work and reward.In the letter to the editor, the two sections in boldface play which of the following roles?a)The first is a fact in support of the author’s position; the second is that position.b)The first is a consideration that the author argues is irrelevant; the second is a consideration in support of the author’s argument.c)The first is an assumption that contradicts the author’s position; the second is a premise in support of the author’s position.d)The first is a conclusion that stands in opposition to the author’s position; the second is the author’s position.e)The first is a premise that clarifies the author’s position; the second is a prediction that the author believes will hold true.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?.
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Furthermore, the estate tax undermines a strong work ethic by devaluing the link between work and reward.In the letter to the editor, the two sections in boldface play which of the following roles?a)The first is a fact in support of the author’s position; the second is that position.b)The first is a consideration that the author argues is irrelevant; the second is a consideration in support of the author’s argument.c)The first is an assumption that contradicts the author’s position; the second is a premise in support of the author’s position.d)The first is a conclusion that stands in opposition to the author’s position; the second is the author’s position.e)The first is a premise that clarifies the author’s position; the second is a prediction that the author believes will hold true.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. 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Furthermore, the estate tax undermines a strong work ethic by devaluing the link between work and reward.In the letter to the editor, the two sections in boldface play which of the following roles?a)The first is a fact in support of the author’s position; the second is that position.b)The first is a consideration that the author argues is irrelevant; the second is a consideration in support of the author’s argument.c)The first is an assumption that contradicts the author’s position; the second is a premise in support of the author’s position.d)The first is a conclusion that stands in opposition to the author’s position; the second is the author’s position.e)The first is a premise that clarifies the author’s position; the second is a prediction that the author believes will hold true.Correct answer is option 'D'. 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Furthermore, the estate tax undermines a strong work ethic by devaluing the link between work and reward.In the letter to the editor, the two sections in boldface play which of the following roles?a)The first is a fact in support of the author’s position; the second is that position.b)The first is a consideration that the author argues is irrelevant; the second is a consideration in support of the author’s argument.c)The first is an assumption that contradicts the author’s position; the second is a premise in support of the author’s position.d)The first is a conclusion that stands in opposition to the author’s position; the second is the author’s position.e)The first is a premise that clarifies the author’s position; the second is a prediction that the author believes will hold true.Correct answer is option 'D'. 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Furthermore, the estate tax undermines a strong work ethic by devaluing the link between work and reward.In the letter to the editor, the two sections in boldface play which of the following roles?a)The first is a fact in support of the author’s position; the second is that position.b)The first is a consideration that the author argues is irrelevant; the second is a consideration in support of the author’s argument.c)The first is an assumption that contradicts the author’s position; the second is a premise in support of the author’s position.d)The first is a conclusion that stands in opposition to the author’s position; the second is the author’s position.e)The first is a premise that clarifies the author’s position; the second is a prediction that the author believes will hold true.Correct answer is option 'D'. 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Furthermore, the estate tax undermines a strong work ethic by devaluing the link between work and reward.In the letter to the editor, the two sections in boldface play which of the following roles?a)The first is a fact in support of the author’s position; the second is that position.b)The first is a consideration that the author argues is irrelevant; the second is a consideration in support of the author’s argument.c)The first is an assumption that contradicts the author’s position; the second is a premise in support of the author’s position.d)The first is a conclusion that stands in opposition to the author’s position; the second is the author’s position.e)The first is a premise that clarifies the author’s position; the second is a prediction that the author believes will hold true.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice GMAT tests.
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