Study for the Logical Reasoning STEM Test. Practice with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare for success!

Multiple Choice

Two speakers discuss carbon taxation. The point at issue is whether carbon taxation should be implemented.

The main idea being tested is identifying the proposition being debated—the exact claim the speakers are trying to decide. In this case, the claim at issue is whether carbon taxation should be implemented. That’s the yes-or-no policy decision the speakers are arguing about. Why this is the best answer: a point at issue in a policy discussion is a normative claim about adopting or rejecting a policy. Saying carbon taxation should be implemented states the action the debate is about. The other topics—whether the policy would reduce emissions, whether it’s politically feasible, or whether it’s popular—are important considerations or supporting arguments, but they describe aspects of the policy rather than the central claim of whether the policy ought to be adopted.

The main idea being tested is identifying the proposition being debated—the exact claim the speakers are trying to decide. In this case, the claim at issue is whether carbon taxation should be implemented. That’s the yes-or-no policy decision the speakers are arguing about.

Why this is the best answer: a point at issue in a policy discussion is a normative claim about adopting or rejecting a policy. Saying carbon taxation should be implemented states the action the debate is about. The other topics—whether the policy would reduce emissions, whether it’s politically feasible, or whether it’s popular—are important considerations or supporting arguments, but they describe aspects of the policy rather than the central claim of whether the policy ought to be adopted.