Directions: The critical reasoning question is based on a short argument, a set of arguments, or a plan of action. For each question, select the best answer of the choices given and explain why the chosen answer is the right fit.

During an ongoing discussion between a minister and a reporter about the stealing of electricity.

The minister said, " We ensure that increasing the prices of the industrial units will in some way help us to get over this electricity theft very soon."

To this, the reporter replied, " Increasing the rates of industrial electricity supply will lead to a higher burden on those who were paying their dues in the first place. This eventually forces even more industrial units to steal electricity and cause higher loss to the exchequer."

What was the viewpoint of the reporter while replying to the minister?