Last visit was: 08 Jul 2025, 22:47 It is currently 08 Jul 2025, 22:47
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
guerrero25
Joined: 10 Apr 2012
Last visit: 13 Nov 2019
Posts: 244
Own Kudos:
4,893
 [10]
Given Kudos: 325
Location: United States
Concentration: Technology, Other
GPA: 2.44
WE:Project Management (Telecommunications)
Posts: 244
Kudos: 4,893
 [10]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
6
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
ankur1901
Joined: 23 May 2013
Last visit: 08 Jul 2014
Posts: 75
Own Kudos:
283
 [3]
Given Kudos: 109
Posts: 75
Kudos: 283
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
ramannanda9
Joined: 15 May 2013
Last visit: 22 Apr 2015
Posts: 108
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 34
Status:Persevering
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, Leadership
GMAT Date: 08-02-2013
GPA: 3.7
WE:Consulting (Consulting)
Posts: 108
Kudos: 256
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
saroshgilani
Joined: 21 Mar 2014
Last visit: 20 Sep 2016
Posts: 15
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 13
Posts: 15
Kudos: 16
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Although, D seems legit, there is one problem, the statement says, "the situation changed"....
the change might be less than price increase of 5%(option c) ...
justified? , or am i being paranoid....?
User avatar
Abhishek009
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 11 Jun 2011
Last visit: 21 Apr 2025
Posts: 5,968
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 463
Status:QA & VA Forum Moderator
Location: India
GPA: 3.5
WE:Business Development (Commercial Banking)
Posts: 5,968
Kudos: 5,153
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
guerrero25
Which of the following most logically completes the passage?

Between 1995 and 2000, the minimum wage in Laconia increased by 15 percent. However, even though all Laconian minimum-wage workers were subject to the increase, and inflation during this period was less than 3 percent, most Laconians who worked for minimum wage during this period were no more comfortable in 2000 than they were in 1995, primarily because_______.


(A)between 1995 and 2000 the number of Laconians working for minimum wage had been constantly increasing.

(B)during this time, most Laconian minimum-wage workers had no other source of income.

(C)between 1995 and 2000, most products consumed by Laconians working for minimum wage increased in price by 5 percent.

(D)Laconian minimum-wage workers did not have to pay any property or income taxes in 1995, a situation which had changed by 2000.

(E)most elderly people in Laconia received insignificant benefit, which was not sufficient to make a living, and their children who often worked for minimum wage had to support them financially.

Wages Increased + Inflation (Low) = Workers not happy

The reason may be something such that their expensses (Somewhere) increased considerable, the same has been pointed out in option (D), increase in Property tax will lead to less disposable income, hence correct Answer must be (D).
avatar
RahulHGGmat
Joined: 06 Jun 2020
Last visit: 14 Jan 2022
Posts: 81
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 286
Posts: 81
Kudos: 13
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi Experts,

Hope you are doing well.

Request you to look into this argument.

Between 1995 and 2000, the minimum wage in Laconia increased by 15 percent. However, even though all Laconian minimum-wage workers were subject to the increase, and inflation during this period was less than 3 percent, most Laconians who worked for minimum wage during this period were no more comfortable in 2000 than they were in 1995, primarily because_______.

(D)Laconian minimum-wage workers did not have to pay any property or income taxes in 1995, a situation which had changed by 2000.

(E)most elderly people in Laconia received an insignificant benefit, which was not sufficient to make a living, and their children who often worked for minimum wage had to support them financially.

As the argument clearly specifies that most Laconians workers were no more comfortable with the increase in 2000 because ______

I think answer option E is more suitable because answer option is also talking about most elderly people who did not recieve significant benefits and whom children were often worker. However, the OA is option D.

I would request you to look into this matter and clear my ambiguities.
User avatar
arjunnath
Joined: 16 Jul 2017
Last visit: 15 Nov 2021
Posts: 37
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 347
Location: India
Concentration: Marketing, General Management
GMAT 1: 590 Q44 V27
GPA: 2.94
WE:Marketing (Advertising and PR)
GMAT 1: 590 Q44 V27
Posts: 37
Kudos: 32
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
While comparing D and C, how can we be certain whether the property and income taxes that were not present in 1995 had an effect greater than 5% or less on the minimum wage of the workers by 2000?

Is it not a pure assumption that property and income taxes are subject to a higher percentage increase?
Because it could also be below 5% as it was 0% in 1995.

Requesting an expert's reply.

Thanks in advance.
avatar
saranshjain
avatar
Current Student
Joined: 22 Aug 2020
Last visit: 21 Jun 2022
Posts: 33
Own Kudos:
11
 [1]
Given Kudos: 33
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Operations
GMAT 1: 640 Q47 V32
GMAT 2: 690 Q49 V35
GPA: 3.26
WE:Underwriter (Commercial Banking)
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
RahulHGGmat
Hi Experts,

Hope you are doing well.

Request you to look into this argument.

Between 1995 and 2000, the minimum wage in Laconia increased by 15 percent. However, even though all Laconian minimum-wage workers were subject to the increase, and inflation during this period was less than 3 percent, most Laconians who worked for minimum wage during this period were no more comfortable in 2000 than they were in 1995, primarily because_______.

(D)Laconian minimum-wage workers did not have to pay any property or income taxes in 1995, a situation which had changed by 2000.

(E)most elderly people in Laconia received an insignificant benefit, which was not sufficient to make a living, and their children who often worked for minimum wage had to support them financially.

As the argument clearly specifies that most Laconians workers were no more comfortable with the increase in 2000 because ______

I think answer option E is more suitable because answer option is also talking about most elderly people who did not recieve significant benefits and whom children were often worker. However, the OA is option D.

I would request you to look into this matter and clear my ambiguities.

Option E does not give any information on whether the elderly people were dependant on their children in 1995 or that this situation arose in the year 2000 or before. It may have been the case that elderly people were equally dependant in both 1995 and 2000. The ambiguity and lack of timeline make the option incorrect. However, option D clearly highlights the difference in the situation in 1995 and 2000 that could have affected the workers.
Hence, the answer is D.
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 18,440
Own Kudos:
Posts: 18,440
Kudos: 952
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7349 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
235 posts