Statement–Argument — Should a poverty-ridden country invest money in hosting international games? Arguments: I) Yes; such events bring countries together and foster coordination and goodwill. II) No; hosting requires huge expenditures that can crowd out poverty-eradication programmes. Choose the strong argument(s).
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Aif only argument I is strong.
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Bif only argument II is strong.
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CIf either I or II is strong.
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Dif neither I nor II is strong; and
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ENone of these
Answer
Correct Answer: if only argument II is strong.
Explanation
Introduction / Context:Mega-events can catalyze infrastructure, branding, and tourism—but also pose cost overruns and debt risks. In low-income contexts, opportunity cost relative to welfare spending is decisive.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Budgets are finite; funds used for events are unavailable for health, nutrition, and education.
- Intangible diplomatic gains are hard to quantify and may be achieved by cheaper alternatives.
- Event legacies often underperform projections without strong governance.
Concept / Approach:Argument II is strong: it highlights a direct and material trade-off with poverty programmes. Argument I is comparatively weak: while goodwill is valuable, it does not show net benefits outweigh opportunity costs in a poverty-ridden setting.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Identify binding constraint: scarce public funds amid poverty.2) Evaluate II: concrete fiscal trade-off → strong.3) Evaluate I: generalized benefit without cost–benefit demonstration → weak.Verification / Alternative check:Empirical studies frequently find cost overruns; targeted social investments often yield higher welfare returns.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:“Only I/Either/Neither” misclassify the relative persuasiveness.
Common Pitfalls:Counting gross tourism inflows without netting out full public costs.
Final Answer:if only argument II is strong.