Are we sure that this is an official GMAT problem? Something bothers me about this Inference question….
Clearly, the best answer is A. “Which of the following conclusions can be properly drawn” suggests we are looking for a pretty solid inference, if not a 100% must-be-true type inference.
Although there exists support for answer A in the passage, it would be problematic to say that A would be “properly drawn.”
Younger people are MORE LIKELY to be technologically illiterate than somewhat older adults.
Issues for public referenda will increasingly involve aspects of technology.
A is the properly drawn conclusion: If ALL young people are to make informed decisions on public referenda, many of them must learn more about technology.
The logical fallacy in this line of reasoning is using relative/proportional values to makes a conclusion involving a number or value.
For all we know, both groups are very technologically literate. The somewhat older group has a technological literacy rate of 95%. The younger, 18 to 24 group has a technological literacy rate of 90%.
Is the younger group of people, who are just emerging from their education, more likely to be technologically illiterate? YES
However, could we say that if ALL these young people are to make informed decisions on public referenda (assuming that most public referenda will include aspects of technology), that MANY of them must learn more about technology? NO - 90% are technologically literate.
In other words, just because group A is more likely than group B to have characteristic X
——> does NOT necessarily mean that group A will have a GREAT NUMBER of people who have characteristic X.
Is A the best answer? By far.
Can we say that the conclusion provided by A can be “properly drawn” from the statements provided? I’m not sure….
ykaiim wrote:
Technological education is worsening. People between eighteen and twenty-four, who are just emerging from their formal education, are more likely to be technologically illiterate than somewhat older adults. And yet, issues for public referenda will increasingly involve aspects of technology.
Which of the following conclusions can be properly drawn from the statements above?
(A) If all young people are to make informed decisions on public referenda, many of them must learn more about technology.
(B) Thorough studies of technological issues and innovations should be made a required part of the public and private school curriculum.
(C) It should be suggested that prospective voters attend applied science courses in order to acquire a minimal competency in technical matters.
(D) If young people are not to be overly influenced by famous technocrats, they must increase their knowledge of pure science.
(E) On public referenda issues, young people tend to confuse real or probable technologies with impossible ideals.
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