Read the following paragraph from “Three Cheers for the Nanny State.”

Question

Of course, what people fear is that this is just the beginning: today it’s soda, tomorrow it’s the guy
standing behind you making you eat your broccoli, floss your teeth, and watch PBS NewsHour
every day. What this ignores is that successful paternalistic laws are done on the basis of
cost-benefit analysis: if it’s too painful, it’s not a good law. Making these analyses is something
the government has the resources to do, just as now it sets automobile construction standards while
considering both the need for affordability and the desire for safety.

How does the author respond to the conflicting viewpoint?

A. She agrees with the opposing argument and then supports her own claim using a specific fact.
B. She proposes a solution to the opposing argument and then offers a relevant piece of evidence.
C. She points out information disregarded in the opposing argument and then gives a valid opinion.
D. She considers the concerns expressed in the opposing argument and then states her personal belief.

Answer 1

The correct answer is C. She points out information disregarded in the opposing argument and then gives a valid opinion.

The author acknowledges the fear that government intervention could escalate (the slippery slope argument), but counters this by explaining that paternalistic laws are designed based on a cost-benefit analysis, indicating that the government considers the implications of such laws. This highlights a key point that the opposing argument overlooks.