Around the World in 80 Questions (Day 2): Most of the worlds

Question

Most of the world’s population lives in urban areas now, and the proportion of people living in rural areas will drop over the next ten years. Research has shown that people living in urban areas are more likely to develop schizophrenia than people in rural areas.

If the pattern outlined in the last sentence holds in reality, which of the following can be properly concluded from the information provided?

A. A majority of the world’s population is at a greater risk of developing schizophrenia now than it was ten years ago.

B. Ten years from now, more people will suffer from schizophrenia than do now.

C. People living in rural areas will be generally healthier than people living in urban areas.

D. People are now less likely to develop schizophrenia than people will be in ten years.

E. The proportion of the world’s population residing in urban areas will stabilize in ten years.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Target Test Prep Official Explanation:

The correct answer to this question must be clearly supported by the information provided.

(A) A majority of the world’s population is at a greater risk of developing schizophrenia now than it was ten years ago.

The passage provides no information regarding any changes that have occurred over the past ten years. So, we have no support for this statement.

(B) Ten years from now, more people will suffer from schizophrenia than do now.

This choice is a trap. Notice that the passage provides information on only “the proportion of people living in rural areas.” So, we don’t have information on absolute numbers of people. Thus, the passage does not support this statement about “more people.” After all, while the proportion of people living in rural areas may decrease, we don’t have information indicating that “more people” will live in urban areas. Rather, for all we know, the number of people living in all areas will decrease.

(C) People living in rural areas will be generally healthier than people living in urban areas.

We have information on only the relative likelihoods of people developing schizophrenia in rural and urban rural areas. So, we don’t have support for this statement about people being “generally healthier.”

(D) People are now less likely to develop schizophrenia than people will be in ten years.

Correct Answer

If “the proportion of people living in rural areas will drop over the next ten years,” then the proportion of people living in urban areas will increase. Thus, if the pattern “people living in urban areas are more likely to develop schizophrenia than people in rural areas” holds in reality, then we can properly conclude from the information provided that, in ten years, the average person will be more likely to develop schizophrenia. So, this choice follows from the provided information.

(E) The proportion of the world’s population residing in urban areas will stabilize in ten years.

While the passage says that “the proportion of people living in rural areas will drop over the next ten years,” it doesn’t say that that drop will end in ten years. So, the information provided does not support what this choice says.

Answer: D

nivivacious · Answer

A. A majority of the world’s population is at a greater risk of developing schizophrenia now than it was ten years ago.
Incorrect. This statement cannot be concluded from the information provided. We don't have data comparing the risk of developing schizophrenia now versus ten years ago

B. Ten years from now, more people will suffer from schizophrenia than do now.
Incorrect. This could be a possibility given the increasing urbanization, but it's not a definite conclusion as it doesn't take into account other factors like advancements in healthcare, awareness, etc.

C. People living in rural areas will be generally healthier than people living in urban areas.
Incorrect. This cannot be concluded as the information provided only talks about the risk of schizophrenia, not general health.

D. People are now less likely to develop schizophrenia than people will be in ten years.
After eliminating all options, this seems most correct as the proportion of people living in urban areas is expected to increase.

E. The proportion of the world’s population residing in urban areas will stabilize in ten years.
Incorrect. This cannot be concluded from the information provided. We only know that urbanization is increasing, not when it will stabilize

UtkarshAnand · Answer

Most of the world’s population lives in urban areas now, and the proportion of people living in rural areas will drop over the next ten years. Research has shown that people living in urban areas are more likely to develop schizophrenia than people in rural areas.

If the pattern outlined in the last sentence holds in reality, which of the following can be properly concluded from the information provided?

A. A majority of the world’s population is at a greater risk of developing schizophrenia now than it was ten years ago.
B. Ten years from now, more people will suffer from schizophrenia than do now.
C. People living in rural areas will be generally healthier than people living in urban areas.
D. People are now less likely to develop schizophrenia than people will be in ten years.
E. The proportion of the world’s population residing in urban areas will stabilize in ten years.

Explanation: 
We have three premises on the basis of which we have to draw a conclusion:
1. Most of the world’s population lives in urban areas now. 
2. Research has shown that people living in urban areas are more likely to develop schizophrenia than people in rural areas. 
3. The proportion of people living in rural areas will drop over the next ten years.

(A) There is no comparison of past and present in the given scenario. Hence rejected.
(B) Close. But 10 years from now the proportion of people living in rural areas will drop. It doesn't imply that this proportion will be compensated by migration to urban areas. There might be a scenario in which the total fertility rate of rural areas drops. Hence, the population of urban areas can remain similar as compared to today's thus resulting in similar number of schizophrenic cases. Moreover, the premise talks about likelihood of developing schizophrenia and not suffering from it. Hence, rejected. 
(C) General statement. Out of context. Rejected.
(D) Interesting. The premise talks about likelihood of developing schizophrenia as found in this option. Because of the diminishing proportion of rural area population pockets there will be less population in rural areas and possibility (may or may not) of more population in urban areas. In the event of possibility in favour of migration to urban areas, there will be more cases as compared to now. Hence, CORRECT.
(E) Out of context. Rejected.

ANSWER D

DUNGND · Answer

This is a conclusion question, so we need to analyze the facts given in the stimulus:

Fact 1: Most of the world’s population lives in urban areas now => No. of urban people > No. of rural people
Fact 2: The proportion of people living in rural areas will drop over the next ten years => The proportion of people living in urban areas will rise.
Fact 3: Research has shown that people living in urban areas are more likely to develop schizophrenia than people in rural areas => %Urban pp who develop schizophrenia > % rural pp who develop schizophrenia

A. A majority of the world’s population is at a greater risk of developing schizophrenia now than it was ten years ago.
Incorrect. We cannot say anything about how an individual's risk of developing schizophrenia will change over the next 10 years.

B. Ten years from now, more people will suffer from schizophrenia than do now.
Incorrect. We cannot say about the absolute number. What if the world population will significantly decrease in the next 10 years?

C. People living in rural areas will be generally healthier than people living in urban areas.
Irrelevant. We are talking about only one mental illness, not about healthiness as a whole.

D. People are now less likely to develop schizophrenia than people will be in ten years.
 Correct . % pp who develop schizophrenia will increase if the proportion of urban pp, who are more likely to develop this illness, increases.

E. The proportion of the world’s population residing in urban areas will stabilize in ten years.
Wrong. Fact 2 says the opposite.

Kinshook · Answer

Most of the world’s population lives in urban areas now, and the proportion of people living in rural areas will drop over the next ten years. Research has shown that people living in urban areas are more likely to develop schizophrenia than people in rural areas.

If the pattern outlined in the last sentence holds in reality, which of the following can be properly concluded from the information provided?

Nothing is known about pattern of last ten years.
Incorrect

We don't know whether population ten years from now will be more or less than the population today.
Therefore, nothing can be concluded that ten years from now, more or less people will suffer from schizophrenia than do now.
Incorrect

The argument is concerned with schizophrenia and not with general health.
Incorrect

Since the proportion of population living in urban areas will increase in ten years and urban population is more likely to develop schizophrenia.
People are now less likely to develop schizophrenia than people will be in ten years
Correct

Nothing can be concluded whether the world’s population residing in urban areas will stabilize in ten years or not.
Incorrect

IMO D

divyagolyan · Answer

Most of the world’s population lives in urban areas now, and the proportion of people living in rural areas will drop over the next ten years. Research has shown that people living in urban areas are more likely to develop schizophrenia than people in rural areas.

If the pattern outlined in the last sentence holds in reality, which of the following can be properly concluded from the information provided?

A. A majority of the world’s population is at a greater risk of developing schizophrenia now than it was ten years ago. -  The future trend cannot be reverse extrapolated to reflect that the same happened in the past. So A is out.

B. Ten years from now, more people will suffer from schizophrenia than do now. -  Yes this is possible, but not necessary. People are "more likely" to suffer from schizophrenia 10 yrs from now, but it cannot be concluded that they definitively will.

C. People living in rural areas will be generally healthier than people living in urban areas. -  Generally healthier is out of scope. We're only talking about schizophrenia and have no information about general health which can include many more ailments.

D. People are now less likely to develop schizophrenia than people will be in ten years.
After eliminating all options, this seems most correct as the proportion of people living in urban areas is expected to increase.

E. The proportion of the world’s population residing in urban areas will stabilize in ten years. -  Nothing of this sort is indicated.

missionmba2025 · Answer

A. A majority of the world’s population is at a greater risk of developing schizophrenia now than it was ten years ago.

We have no information on the population distribution 10 years ago. Eliminate.

B. Ten years from now, more people will suffer from schizophrenia than do now.

Very temping choice. We are just given the likely hood. This option is too strong opinionated. Eliminate.

C. People living in rural areas will be generally healthier than people living in urban areas.

We are not given any information on other diseases or health in people in general. Eliminate.

D. People are now less likely to develop schizophrenia than people will be in ten years.

Better than B. Yes, we can say that the people are less likely now than they would be in 10 years . Keep.

E. The proportion of the world’s population residing in urban areas will stabilize in ten years.

No information on this is provided. Eliminate.

IMO D

TargetKellogg2024 · Answer

Most of the world’s population lives in urban areas now, and the proportion of people living in rural areas will drop over the next ten years. Research has shown that people living in urban areas are more likely to develop schizophrenia than people in rural areas.

If the pattern outlined in the last sentence holds in reality, which of the following can be properly concluded from the information provided?

A. A majority of the world’s population is at a greater risk of developing schizophrenia now than it was ten years ago.
This statement cannot be properly concluded from the information provided. The passage only mentions the current and future proportions of people living in urban and rural areas, along with the higher likelihood of developing schizophrenia in urban areas. It doesn't provide any information about the risk of developing schizophrenia compared to ten years ago.

B. Ten years from now, more people will suffer from schizophrenia than do now.
The passage does not provide enough information to make this conclusion. While it mentions that the proportion of people living in rural areas will drop over the next ten years, it doesn't give specific numbers or growth rates for schizophrenia cases.

C. People living in rural areas will be generally healthier than people living in urban areas.
There is no direct information in the passage to support this conclusion. The passage only states that people living in urban areas are more likely to develop schizophrenia, but it doesn't provide information about overall health or compare the general health of people living in rural and urban areas.

D. People are now less likely to develop schizophrenia than people will be in ten years.
Correct!

E. The proportion of the world’s population residing in urban areas will stabilize in ten years.
The passage doesn't provide any indication or data about the stability or change in the proportion of the world's population residing in urban areas over the next ten years. Therefore, this conclusion cannot be properly drawn from the information given.

cledgard · Answer

A. A majority of the world’s population is at a greater risk of developing schizophrenia now than it was ten years ago.
 The stimulus is about ten years in the future, not in the past. 
B. Ten years from now, more people will suffer from schizophrenia than do now.
 The stimulus is about the likelihood of developing schizophrenia, not about certainty. 
C. People living in rural areas will be generally healthier than people living in urban areas.
 The stimulus is about schizophrenia. There could be other health issues that make people living in rural areas less healthy. 
D. People are now less likely to develop schizophrenia than people will be in ten years.
  Correct. If people living in urban areas are more likely to develop schizophrenia than people in rural areas, and there are going to be fewer people living in rural areas, then people are now less likely to develop schizophrenia than people will be in ten years.  
E. The proportion of the world’s population residing in urban areas will stabilize in ten years.
 There is nothing in the text that leads to this conclusion.

Niddd · Answer

A. A majority of the world’s population is at a greater risk of developing schizophrenia now than it was ten years ago. 
 Out of scope. The text passage mentions nothing about 10 years ago.

B. Ten years from now, more people will suffer from schizophrenia than do now. 
 This could be the case, however one could find that the number of cases is identical. Likelihood of developing schizophrenia does not necessarily equate to actually developing schizophrenia.

C. People living in rural areas will be generally healthier than people living in urban areas. 
 One could find that people in urban areas are much healthier for numerous reasons and that merely are more prone to schizophrenia. The passage does not look at overall health, only schizophrenia.

D. People are now less likely to develop schizophrenia than people will be in ten years. 
 If the proportion of the urban population to the rural population increases, then the overall likelihood of developing schizophrenia increases as well.

E. The proportion of the world’s population residing in urban areas will stabilize in ten years. 
 Out of scope. Nothing in the passage pertains to this.

Answer D

vishal_gupta · Answer

A. A majority of the world’s population is at a greater risk of developing schizophrenia now than it was ten years ago. (The context is talking for next ten years and not the past ten years)

B. Ten years from now, more people will suffer from schizophrenia than do now. (Peoples are more likely to develop schizophrenia as a result of shifting to urban areas, but it doesn't mean they will definitely suffer from schizophrenia)

C. People living in rural areas will be generally healthier than people living in urban areas. (It cannot be concluded that rural areas peoples will be more healthier)

D. People are now less likely to develop schizophrenia than people will be in ten years.
After eliminating all options, this seems most correct as the proportion of people living in urban areas is expected to increase.

E. The proportion of the world’s population residing in urban areas will stabilize in ten years. (This cannot be concluded from the passage)

Rohit_842 · Answer

However I don't agree with the OA. The argument states that the PEOPLE in urban area are more likely to develop schizophrenia than ones in rural area and hence I think : When proportion of people in urban area increases MORE PEOPLE should be likely to develop schizophrenia.

But the OA says its the likelihood hood of developing schizophrenia which increases in the urban people. I mean an average person in urban area after 10 years should still be as likely as 10 years ago, its just that more people would be likely to develop schizophrenia now.

aryanrgupta · Answer

Why is B not the answer?

It is because the information states that people in urban areas are " more likely"  and not " surely"  develop schizophrenia. So, since you can not be sure that urban people will develop schz. option B is ruled out.

SkyBulb · Answer

but it only says proportion of population will increase in urban areas. The population overall could decrease so i dont think with given information, it can be concluded.

egmat · Answer

Hi SkyBulb,

You're spot on that the total population could shrink; the passage really does only give us  proportions , not head counts. That's a sharp catch. The key is that your objection knocks out  B , not  D .

B  says "more people will suffer" - an  absolute number . To conclude that, you'd need to know the total population isn't falling, and we don't. So B fails for exactly the reason you gave.

D  is a different animal. It says people are " less likely to develop schizophrenia " now than in ten years - that's a statement about  likelihood  (a per-person probability), not about how many people there are.

Here's why the total population doesn't matter for D:
- Likelihood depends on the  mix  - what fraction of people sit in the higher-risk urban group versus the lower-risk rural group.
- The passage tells us the urban proportion  rises  and the rural proportion  falls .
- So a larger share of people is in the higher-risk category - which pushes the  average person's  chance of developing schizophrenia up.

Whether the world has  8 billion  people or  5 billion  doesn't touch that average - shrinking the total scales both groups down together and leaves the proportions (and  therefore  the likelihood) intact.

A quick stand-in to lock it in:  picture a bag of red and blue marbles, where red = higher risk. If the  share  of red marbles goes up, then a marble you pull out at random is  more likely  to be red - and that's true whether the bag now holds more marbles or fewer. "How many marbles total" is the B question; "how likely is red" is the D question.

That's the whole gap:  D is about probability, B is about counts.  Your reasoning was correct - it just belongs to B.

Answer: D

Around the World in 80 Questions (Day 2): Most of the worlds

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Around the World in 80 Questions (Day 2): Most of the worlds

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

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My Rewards