Question ID:PT88 S4 Q18 Passage:Economist: Machinery firms in this country argue that in order to grow big enough to compete successfully with foreign rivals, the protection that they have been receiving from foreign competition must be extended for several more years. Yet these firms have been receiving protection from foreign competition for the last ten years. If it were possible for protection from foreign competition to enable this country's machinery firms to grow big enough to compete successfully with foreign rivals, ten years would be a sufficient time frame for this to happen. Stem:The economist's statements, if true, most strongly support which one of the following? Correct Answer Choice:EChoice A:Protection from foreign competition rarely if ever enables firms to grow big enough to compete with foreign rivals. Choice B:Ten years is a sufficient time frame for assessing the success of any economic policy. Choice C:None of the machinery firms in the economist's country has grown significantly over the last ten years. Choice D:Most of the machinery firms in the economist's country will go out of business unless they are protected from foreign competition. Choice E:Protection from foreign competition will not enable machinery firms in the economist's country to grow big enough to take on foreign rivals.