THE CORRECT ANSWER IS A. THE CONCLUSION IS THAT CONGRESS HAS PRACT...
35. The correct answer is A.
The conclusion is that Congress has practiced bad public policy "in
failing to increase Pell grants or at least limit their reduction for next
year's budget." The basis for that claim is that Pell grants improve
access to higher education, which allows lower-income students to
improve their economic standing. We are asked to weaken this
claim.
Choice A is correct. If total spending on access to higher education
will increase, then Congress has addressed the issue that the author
complains about, albeit through means other than Pell grants.
Choice B is incorrect. Whether candidates for Pell grants are aware
of their eligibility is irrelevant to the claim about Congress.
Choice C is incorrect. After-school programs in urban communities
do not help low-income students afford higher education.
Choice D is incorrect. The amount of the Pell grants is irrelevant. It
matters only that they provide some help at all.
Choice E is incorrect. Increasing total spending on education does
not necessarily imply that low-income students will have better
access to higher education.