Supply shortages and signs of growing demand are driving cocoa prices upward.Unusually severe weather in cocoa-producing regions—too much rain in Brazil and too little in West Africa—has limited production. Further, Europe and North America recently reported stronger demand for cocoa. In the first quarter, grinding of cocoa beans—the first stage in processing cocoa for chocolate—rose 8.1 percent in Europe and 16 percent in North America. Analysts have concluded that cocoa's price will continue to rise at least into the near future.
Which of the following would, if true, most strengthen the reasoning above?
Ground cocoa beans can be stored for long periods before they spoil.
Several European and North American manufacturers that use cocoa have recently improved their processing capacity.
It takes new cocoa trees five or six years before they start bearing fruit.
Governments in Europe and North America are likely to change current restrictions on cocoa imports.
Historically, cocoa production has varied widely from year to year.
情景:可可供给短缺——可可生长的地区天气不好;需求增加——欧洲北美最近对可可的需求增大。在第一季度,可可豆的研磨——可可变为巧克力的第一步——在欧洲上升了8.1%,在北美上升了16%。分析学家认为至少在近期可可的价格会继续上升。
推理:
(因)前提:供不应求
(果)结论:可可的价格上升
选项分析:
A选项:在腐烂之前,可可豆可以保存很长时间:并不能解释目前的供求有没有变化,以及会给价格带来什么影响。
B选项:一些欧美的制造商近期提高了他们的加工能力:并不能解释目前的供求有没有变化,以及会给价格带来什么影响。
C选项:正确。新的可可树要五六年才能结果:进一步减少了供给,加剧了供不应求。
D选项:欧美的政府有可能改变对可可进口的限制:并不能解释目前的供求有没有变化,以及会给价格带来什么影响。
E选项:可可的生产每年在变化:并不能解释目前的供求有没有变化,以及会给价格带来什么影响。
C. 正确。可可树要花5-6年才能结果:此选项是想告诉我们可可树要花很长时间才可以结果。如果我们取非——可可树“唰”的一下就能结果,那么供应问题就有可能解决了,未来cocoa的价格就不一定会持续上涨。此选项取非后可削弱。
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