Bunuel
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.
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 AnswerIf “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