Statement & Argument — Should professional education packages be emphasized more than traditional (general) education? Arguments: I. Yes; professional education has direct, higher productivity value for industries and employability. II. No; giving primacy to professional streams would jeopardize other disciplines and make their survival difficult.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: if only argument I is strong

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The policy question weighs emphasis on professional (job-oriented) education against broader, traditional streams. A strong argument must connect to societal outcomes—productivity, employability, innovation—using general, reasonable assumptions. Weak arguments rely on speculative harms without mechanism.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Professional programs (engineering, medicine, management, IT, etc.) often align directly with industry needs.
  • Traditional education (humanities, pure sciences, social sciences) underpins critical thinking and long-run innovation.
  • The stem asks about emphasis, not exclusion.


Concept / Approach:
Argument I is strong: it cites productivity and industry linkage—clear, policy-relevant benefits. Argument II is weak: it predicts a “tough existence” for other disciplines but does not explain why calibrated emphasis (not elimination) would necessarily endanger them; resource allocation can be balanced.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Evaluate I: Direct pipeline to jobs and applied R&D—strong relevance.Evaluate II: Slippery slope; lacks a causal mechanism and ignores policy design—weak.


Verification / Alternative check:
Many systems fund both: robust liberal education plus targeted professional tracks. That coexistence further undermines II’s inevitability claim.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“Either” would over-credit II. “Neither” ignores I’s solid grounding.


Common Pitfalls:
Framing emphasis as zero-sum instead of portfolio optimization.


Final Answer:
Only Argument I is strong.

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