Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert

Question

Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on property. In place of this system, the city plans to introduce a sales tax of three percent on all retail sales in the city. Critics protest that 3 percent of current retail sales falls short of the amount raised for schools by property taxes. The critics are correct on this point. Nevertheless, implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools. Several large retailers have selected Aroca City as the site for huge new stores, and these are certain to draw large numbers of shoppers from neighboring municipalities, where sales are taxed at rates of six percent and more. In consequence, retail sales in Aroca City are bound to increase substantially.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

(A) The first presents a plan that the argument concludes is unlikely to achieve its goal; the second expresses that conclusion.

(B) The first presents a plan that the argument concludes is unlikely to achieve its goal; the second presents evidence in support of that conclusion.

(C) The first presents a plan that the argument contends is the best available; the second is a conclusion drawn by the argument to justify that contention.

(D) The first presents a plan one of whose consequences is at issue in the argument; the second is the argument’s conclusion about that consequence.

(E) The first presents a plan that the argument seeks to defend against a certain criticism; the second is that criticism.

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ID: 500282

SOURCE: OG18 Q160

Official Guide Verbal Review 2017 did modify the question from the following post. (Book Question: 164)

https://gmatclub.com/forum/aroca-city-c ... 57407.html
https://gmatclub.com/forum/the-official ... 25020.html

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Official Answer

D

Kurtosis · Accepted Answer

Situation: New plan is introduced and it will succeed.

BF1: New plan.
BF2: Verdict on the new plan.

(A) The first presents a plan that the argument concludes is unlikely to achieve its goal; the second expresses that conclusion. - Incorrect. The argument concludes that BF1 is likely to achieve its goal.

(B) The first presents a plan that the argument concludes is unlikely to achieve its goal; the second presents evidence in support of that conclusion. - Incorrect. Same error as in A.

(C) The first presents a plan that the argument contends is the best available; the second is a conclusion drawn by the argument to justify that contention. - Incorrect. We do not know whether the first plan is the best available.

(D) The first presents a plan one of whose consequences is at issue in the argument; the second is the argument’s conclusion about that consequence. - Correct.

(E) The first presents a plan that the argument seeks to defend against a certain criticism; the second is that criticism. - Incorrect. BF2 is not a criticism.

Answer: D

GMATNinja · Answer

Hi  adkikani , sorry for the delayed reply!

Identifying the conclusion is a bit tricky here. But what do we really care about? Is the author primarily concerned with convincing you that "the critics are correct"? The conclusion is the thing that everything else in the passage supports. Does the rest of the passage support the fact that the critics are correct? Not at all.... in fact, the author doesn't cite any evidence to support this claim. The author simply tells us that the critics are correct.

Even though the critics are correct about some of the facts, implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools. THIS is what we really care about. The author is trying to convince us that the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca's schools. The rest of the passage supports that statement.

Hopefully the explanation by  Vyshak  cleared up your other concerns. If you still have questions, please use the  request verbal experts' reply  button.

arunavamunshi1988 · Answer

Hi,
I have a doubt here, Why option D is correct?

The first presents a plan one of whose consequences is at issue in the argument; the second is the argument’s conclusion about that consequence.

The first presents a plan one of whose consequences is at issue in the argument - What is one of the consequences of the 1st bold faced portion which is at issue?

the second is the argument’s conclusion about that consequence - What consequence is talked here based on which the 2nd bold faced statement is taken as conclusion?

Kurtosis · Answer

What is one of the consequences of the 1st bold faced portion which is at issue? -  The argument is concerned whether the plan will succeed.

Critics say that the plan will not succeed because of some fact. But, notice the keyword 'Nevertheless', which diverts from the view taken by the critics. The argument concludes that the plan will have the desired effect. What follows after the conclusion is further evidence to strengthen the conclusion that the plan is going to succeed.

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

let us read the paragraph provided --

The first sentence -- "Aroca City currently funds ..." -- is a fact. The second sentence states a new development in the city. This also is a fact.

The very next sentence talks about the critics' opinion on the issue.

The fourth sentence -- "critics are correct on this point" -- states the author's opinion. It is possible that this can be the conclusion of the author's argument.

However, the next sentence -- "Nevertheless, implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools" -- weakens the force of the previous statement. Note the keyword "nevertheless" (= in spite of the fact that). This is the author's main conclusion. Rest of the paragraph -- "Several large retailers have selected Aroca City ..." -- supports the main conclusion of the argument by suggesting that probably the money going to Aroca's schools will probably not be reduced after all.

Let us take a look at the answer options --

Option A and B - Incorrect

"unlikely to achieve its goal" -- the main conclusion of the author suggests otherwise. The second does not express the conclusion that 3% of sales tax would fall short. That would be the critic's conclusion. Author's conclusion is precisely the opposite.

Option C - Incorrect

WE cannot infer whether this is the best plan available.

Option D - Correct answer

The "issue" -- critics say that the plan will fall short of funding public schools/ Author suggests the opposite.
the second boldface is the main conclusion.

Option E - Incorrect

the second boldface supports the first, not criticize.

AjiteshArun · Answer

If I remember correctly,  the critics protest... taxes  bit is not supposed to be in boldface. The first portion should be just  in place... the city .

saurabh3 · Answer

Nevertheless means "in spite of that".. the plan is surely not represented as the best (no comparison is given)..Also, second is a conclusion about that particular plan only ..not about the intent that it is the best plan

Kurtosis · Answer

The first presents a plan but the argument doesn't contend that it is the best plan available.

Critics doubt that the plan (first boldface) will succeed.

The second boldface then states that the plan will succeed. --> The second boldface doesn't justify that the plan available is the best.

C is incorrect for the above reasons.

aragonn · Answer

Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on property. ----  Fact 
1. In place of this system, the city plans to introduce a sales tax of three percent on all retail sales in the city.---  proposal 
Critics protest that 3 percent of current retail sales falls short of the amount raised for schools by property taxes. ---  opinion 
The critics are correct on this point. ---  Someone saying above opinion is correct.  
2. Nevertheless ---  something contradictory coming. 
implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools. ---  contradiction to someone, as rest evidence given for this choice, this is the main conclusion 
Several large retailers have selected Aroca City as the site for huge new stores, ----  Fact 
and these are certain to draw large numbers of shoppers from neighboring municipalities, ---  prediction 
where sales are taxed at rates of six percent and more. ---  fact 
In consequence, retail sales in Aroca City are bound to increase substantially. ----  prediction

Final verdict: First is some kind of proposal. 2nd is telling that this plan will not work.

(D) The first presents a plan one of whose consequences is at issue in the argument; the second is the argument’s conclusion about that consequence. --- this is the best answer.

AkshdeepS · Answer

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

POE is the rescuer in Verbal.

Main point of the passage :  Nevertheless, implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools.

Author tries to support the plan in BF 1.

BF 1  : In place of this system, the city plans to introduce a sales tax of three percent on all retail sales in the city . Critics protest that 3 percent of current retail sales falls short of the amount raised for schools by property taxes. The critics are correct on this point.
 
BF 2  : Nevertheless, implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools.

(A) The first presents a plan that the argument concludes is unlikely to achieve its goal; the second expresses that conclusion.

BF 1 presents a plan but the main point (BF2) is in the support the plan , BF2 is the main point of the passage. Eliminate
  
(B) The first presents a plan that the argument concludes is unlikely to achieve its goal; the second presents evidence in support of that conclusion.

BF 1 presents a plan but the main point (BF2) is in the support the plan , BF2 is the main point of the passage.Eliminate
  
(C) The first presents a plan that the argument contends is the best available; the second is a conclusion drawn by the argument to justify that contention.

Good option but extreme option. Passage does not support the fact that "The plan is the best available." Eliminate
  
 (D) The first presents a plan one of whose consequences is at issue in the argument; the second is the argument’s conclusion about that consequence.
 
  Correct. 
 
(E) The first presents a plan that the argument seeks to defend against a certain criticism; the second is that criticism.

BF 2 is not a criticism at the first place. Eliminate

kavach · Answer

let us read the paragraph provided --

The first sentence -- "Aroca City currently funds ..." -- is a fact. The second sentence states a new development in the city. This also is a fact.

The very next sentence talks about the critics' opinion on the issue.

The fourth sentence -- "critics are correct on this point" -- states the author's opinion. It is possible that this can be the conclusion of the author's argument.

However, the next sentence -- "Nevertheless, implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools" -- weakens the force of the previous statement. Note the keyword "nevertheless" (= in spite of the fact that). This is the author's main conclusion. Rest of the paragraph -- "Several large retailers have selected Aroca City ..." -- supports the main conclusion of the argument by suggesting that probably the money going to Aroca's schools will probably not be reduced after all.

Let us take a look at the answer options --

Option A and B - Incorrect

"unlikely to achieve its goal" -- the main conclusion of the author suggests otherwise. The second does not express the conclusion that 3% of sales tax would fall short. That would be the critic's conclusion. Author's conclusion is precisely the opposite.

Option C - Incorrect

WE cannot infer whether this is the best plan available.

Option D - Correct answer

The "issue" -- critics say that the plan will fall short of funding public schools/ Author suggests the opposite.
the second boldface is the main conclusion.

Option E - Incorrect

the second boldface supports the first, not criticize.

kornn · Answer

Dear AjiteshArun VeritasKarishma GMATGuruNY,

I would like to have deep understanding of the passage. Since the logic is not quite clear to me, please confirm whether I can infer the below information from the passage. (passge is in italics)

In place of this system, the city plans to introduce a sales tax of three percent on all retail sales in the city.

-> Does this sentence mean that the city never had a sales tax before? In other words, before the plan the sales tax in this city is ZERO %?

Critics protest that 3 percent of CURRENT retail sales falls short of the amount raised for schools by property taxes. The critics are correct on this point. Nevertheless, implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools.

-> Does the first 2 sentences mean that the author agrees that 3 % of CURRENT retail sales is LESS than the amount raised by property taxes? But the 3 % of FUTURE retail sales may be MORE than the amount raised by property taxes?

Several large retailers have selected Aroca City as the site for HUGE new stores, and these are certain to draw large numbers of shoppers from neighboring municipalities, where sales are taxed at rates of six percent and more.

-> Does the reason why large retailers select this city is because of the abandonment of property taxes, NOT because of 3% sales tax? (I understood that the city had ZERO % sales tax before the introduction of this plan. So raising the sales tax to 3% is worse for the shoppers actually)

This post is a bit long. Thank you for your patience
Please help

Varot

kornn · Answer

Dear AjiteshArun VeritasKarishma DmitryFarber GMATGuruNY,

Q1. I have questions on the explanation of the OG.

In "Reasoning" section, it mentions that "the second boldface portion rejects the critics’ IMPLICIT conclusion that the plan WILL reduce school funding"

Do I understand this correctly?
: The critics' EXPLICIT conclusion is that 3 percent of CURRENT retail sales LESS THAN the amount raised for schools by property taxes
: The critics' IMPLICIT conclusion is that 3 percent of FUTURE retail sales WILL ALSO BE LESS THAN the amount raised for schools by property taxes

Q2. I would like to know how to interpret the latter part of choice C.

(C) The first presents a plan that the argument contends is the best available; the second is a conclusion drawn by the argument to JUSTIFY THAT CONTENTION.

Does the latter part mean that BF2 is an intermediate conclusion, which in turn is a premise, supporting the main conclusion, which is the contention?

Please help

Varot

DmitryFarber · Answer

Introducing a sales tax definitely means that this 3% tax is new. Current sales tax could be 0%, or this could be an additional tax on top of existing taxes.

Yes on your first sentence. The second part is less clear. The author does go on to suggest that 3% of future sales may exceed the amount raised from property taxes. However, at this point, that hasn't been stated. The author could go on to state some other reason that the total amount might not be reduced. For instance, a loss in tax revenue might be made up for by some other source, e.g. private contributions or federal funding.

The reason isn't stated, and we don't need to know. We just know that these retailers are on their way, and since other nearby locations have higher taxes, the author believes people will go out of their way to shop at these stores.

DmitryFarber · Answer

That's right. We don't generally deal with implicit conclusions on the GMAT, but that is the idea. If you suggest that we see a certain movie, and my response is "It got terrible reviews," I seem to be implying a conclusion that we shouldn't see the movie. This kind of thing is hard to test definitively, though, so we're not likely to be asked for it.

If we assume that the statements in this wrong answer make sense, then that's the best sense we can make of them. However, sometimes the wrong answers get a little garbled. In this way, they can resemble the nonsense meanings of some wrong SC answers.

KarishmaB · Answer

Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on property.  - Current situation. Sets the context.

In place of this system, the city plans to introduce a sales tax of three percent on all retail sales in the city  . - New Plan discussed in the argument. We finally find out that the argument supports the plan.

Critics protest that 3 percent of current retail sales falls short of the amount raised for schools by property taxes.  - Criticism of the new plan.

The critics are correct on this point.  - Submission to the critics of the new plan.

Nevertheless, implementing the plan will probably not reduce the money going to Aroca’s schools  . - Supporting the new plan. Conclusion of the argument.

Several large retailers have selected Aroca City as the site for HUGE new stores, and these are certain to draw large numbers of shoppers from neighboring municipalities, where sales are taxed at rates of six percent and more.

-> Does the reason why large retailers select this city is because of the abandonment of property taxes, NOT because of 3% sales tax? (I understood that the city had ZERO % sales tax before the introduction of this plan. So raising the sales tax to 3% is worse for the shoppers actually)

(A) The first presents a plan that the argument concludes is unlikely to achieve its goal; the second expresses that conclusion.

First presents the plan that the argument concludes is LIKELY to achieve its goal. Hence this option is incorrect.

(B) The first presents a plan that the argument concludes is unlikely to achieve its goal; the second presents evidence in support of that conclusion.

First presents the plan that the argument concludes is LIKELY to achieve its goal. Hence this option is incorrect.

(C) The first presents a plan that the argument contends is the best available; the second is a conclusion drawn by the argument to justify that contention.

The argument does not contend that the new plan is the BEST option available. Hence this option is incorrect.

(D) The first presents a plan one of whose consequences is at issue in the argument; the second is the argument’s conclusion about that consequence.

Correct. The argument is discussing a consequence (will it reduce money available for schools?) of the new plan. The first provides the plan. The second is the argument's conclusion about that consequence.

(E) The first presents a plan that the argument seeks to defend against a certain criticism; the second is that criticism.

The second is not a criticism against the plan. It supports the plan.

KarishmaB · Answer

The critics say nothing about future tax. The critics only say that 3 percent of current retail sales falls short of the amount raised for schools by property taxes. So the only conclusion they draw is that money for schools will reduce. Since it is not stated as such, the explanation calls it an implicit conclusion.

I don't think the second part of option (C) makes much sense. 
Contention - The plan presented is the best available.
A "conclusion drawn by the argument" is unlikely to JUSTIFY the contention. A conclusion would STATE that this is the best available plan. If I have to, I will agree with your "intermediate conclusion theory" but I wouldn't pay much heed to second part of option (C). Incorrect options don't necessarily get the same attention that correct options do or perhaps they try to confuse you.

TheUltimateWinner · Answer

Hello  Vyshak 
If the word ''unlikely'' is changed to ''  likely  '' in choice A and B, then any chance for choice A or B be contender for this question?
Thanks__

TheUltimateWinner · Answer

CrackVerbalGMAT 
Could you take a look on  highlighted   part, please?
So, what does it indicate by the word ''conclusion'' in D? Is it  only  conclusion or  main  conclusion?
Thanks in advanced..

Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert

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Aroca City currently funds its public schools through taxes on propert

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