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Craft and StructureVery hardTwo texts on a policy's effect

Craft and Structure practice question

Text 1 The region's minimum price for alcohol worked: hospital admissions for alcohol-related illness fell by 10 percent within two years of its introduction. Text 2 Admissions had been falling for five years before the minimum price was introduced, at roughly the same rate, and neighbouring regions with no such policy saw similar falls over the same two years.

Based on the texts, how would the author of Text 2 most likely respond to the claim in Text 1?

  1. A. By arguing that the fall cannot be credited to the policy, since it continued an existing trend that also appeared where no policy existed.Correct
  2. B. By denying that admissions fell.
  3. C. By agreeing that the policy caused the fall.
  4. D. By claiming that neighbouring regions had stricter policies.

Answer: A. By arguing that the fall cannot be credited to the policy, since it continued an existing trend that also appeared where no policy existed.

A prior trend and a matching fall elsewhere: no evidence of an effect.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. By denying that admissions fell.
Text 2 accepts the fall.
C. By agreeing that the policy caused the fall.
Text 2 questions the cause.
D. By claiming that neighbouring regions had stricter policies.
Text 2 says they had no such policy.

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