Columnist: Some people argue that the government sh

I fell for the trap, A: “at least as great as”, not quite equal to “greater”. But now, I can see why D is the right answer.

Let me start with an analogy. Warren Buffet buys many businesses and owns them. Does he run all of them? No. He bought Berkshire Hathaway, when it was a failing cotton manufacturer. If he finds a failing business, which is underpriced, he may buy it. He takes it over and installs the right management. So then, does that mean that Warren Buffet owns the company? Yes. Does he manage it? No. But can the business still be managed well? Yes.

D directly contradicts what the stem says. The stem says that banks that are owned by the government can still be managed well as long as the government hires competent senior management to run it.

Columnist: Some people argue that the government should not take over failing private-sector banks because the government does not know how to manage financial institutions. However, rather than managing a bank's day-to-day operations, the government would just need to select the bank's senior management. Most politicians have never been military professionals, yet they appoint the top military officials entrusted with defending the country at least as great a responsibility as managing a bank.

The columnist's statements, if true, provide a reason for rejecting which one of the following?

The problem with this question is that it is easily understandable, however, one may have a hard time understanding what question stem is asking. It is simply asking to reject a choice which can't be inferred from the passage.

A. Commanding a branch of the military requires greater knowledge than running a bank does. - WRONG. This is true since passage uses 'at least' to suggest so to compare.

B. Politicians do an adequate job of appointing the top military officials entrusted with defending the country. - WRONG. This is also true as columnist take such an example and draws a conclusion based on that.

C. Politicians are not capable of managing a bank's day-to-day operations. - WRONG. This is true since day-to-day, specifically, operations are difficult for govt. Whether beyond day-to-day they are capable is beyond our/passage scope.

D. Banks that are owned by the government cannot be well managed. - CORRECT. This is not inferable since nowhere it is mentioned or suggested in the passage that a bank is owned and then managed - whether properly or not, it is not our concern.

E. The government should not take over private- sector banks that are financially sound. - WRONG. This one may give hard time among all. 'Not take over' is fine but 'financially sound' aspect may look out of scope. I'm still unconvinced with my reasoning here though.

Answer D.

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