Demographic experts predict that the global human population

Question

Demographic experts predict that the global human population will reach its peak sometime in the middle of this century, after which it will begin to decline. Population growth is driven primarily by high birth rates in developing countries. It is known that when women have access to education and economic opportunities, they choose to have fewer children. Therefore, these experts propose expanding educational and economic opportunities to women in developing countries to bring about an earlier and smaller population peak.
 
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest grounds to doubt that the experts' proposal, if adopted, will achieve its aim? 
(A) The demographic experts proposing expanding opportunities for women in developing countries made the same recommendations over twenty years ago. 
(B) The experts' prediction is based on realistic assessments of the educational and economic opportunities that can be made available to women in developing countries before that time. 
(C) Many women in industrialized countries will continue to have four or more children despite access to a variety of educational and economic opportunities. 
(D) The demographic experts fail to explain why an earlier and smaller population peak is preferable to a later and larger peak. 
(E) Expanding opportunities to women in developing countries is generally considered a positive outcome regardless of its impact on population levels.

seekmba · Answer

is it C?

C provides that many women who have access to educational and economic opportunities choose to have four or more children. Hence the experts proposal might not work.

ichha148 · Answer

Conclusion is :- Therefore, these experts propose expanding educational and economic opportunities to women in developing countries to bring about an earlier and smaller population peak.

Look at the conclusion indicator if you are not sure where the conclusion is .

So, Option C weakens this conclusion

mustdoit · Answer

I go for D......C seems wrong as industrialized countries is not equivalent to developing countries.....

Gryphon · Answer

IMO C.

Although "developing" countries aren't the same as "industrialized" countries, it would seem to logically follow that if women in industrialized countries who have access to educational programs continue to have children in significant numbers, then those programs would have little to no effect on women in developing countries...which may ultimately wind up being industrialized countries.

Pavle · Answer

can anyone explain why is C and not D

Thanks

ichha148 · Answer

Correct answer : B

This is a weaken question. The experts' proposal involves expanding opportunities for women so that affected women will have fewer children, thus limiting the size of the population peak that the same experts have predicted. We're looking for a choice that suggests that the proposal will not limit the size of the peak or cause it to occur earlier. Consider each one:

(A) This is irrelevant. If the proposal 20 years ago was not followed (and we don't know whether it was or not) the fact that it was made doesn't tell us whether it would be effective or not today.
(B) This is correct. The proposal is based on the assumption that greater opportunities could be arranged for women in developing countries. If the maximum possible opportunities are already present, and have been built into the prediction, the proposal will not bring about any changes in the population peak.
(C) The argument is concerned primarily with developing countries, not industrialized countries.
(D) It doesn't matter whether the goal is desirable; the question is concerned with whether the goal will be attained.
(E) This is outside of the scope. It may be true, but it doesn't bear on whether the proposal will have the desired effect.

https://www.gmatdaily.com/20100803-gmat- ... e-day.html

tryingharder · Answer

D weakens the argument
B supports the conclusion

nikhilkatira · Answer

nusmavrik · Answer

I will try to answer why B is the answer. :-D

P1 : Demographic experts want to peak the population in the developing country. P2 : The reason they give for the success is that in developing countries women have access to education and economic opportunities, they choose to have fewer children. Conclusion : Education and economic opportunities bring about an earlier and smaller population peak Comparing B with C (C) Many women in industrialized countries will continue to have four or more children despite access to a variety of educational and economic opportunities. -----> The scope shift. We are not arguing whether they will have more children or not. The focus is whether women have access to sufficient educational and economic opportunities. If they DO premise P2 will start working . That is the deciding factor for the experts to succeed in this endeavor. (B) The experts' prediction is based on realistic assessments of the educational and economic opportunities that can be made available to women in developing countries before that time. -------> B : Articulate but answer. The important assumption for this endeavor to succeed is that the opportunities for education MUST be available in the developing countries. In the absence of this scenario the argument of the experts falls apart. In fact B weakens the argument that they will DEFINITELY succeed. It can be possible that the country has very little growth opportunities which will not affect the population and bring early peak.

gautrang · Answer

Excellent explanation guys,

B is the answer.

shikhaPorwal · Answer

Can you give explanation for the correct answer?

ankujgupta · Answer

Experts could you please help. I chose C and need to confirm whether it is correct or not

sayantanc2k · Answer

Premise: Education and economic opportunities for women result in women having fewer children.
Conclusion: Education and economic opportunities will help in earlier and smaller peak population.

A: Irrelevant - how long the proposal was made is not related to the link between the premise and conclusion.
B: If the assessment is realistic, then option B strengthens the argument.
C: This option highlights a reason why the proposal may fail. Many women will give birth to four or more children, and hence the lower peak as envisaged will not be achieved.
D: It does not matter why lower peak is preferable to higher peak. The argument is about the relation between the premise and conclusion stated above, not about the justification of the proposal.
E: This option does not have any relation to the link between the premise and conclusion.

Option C is correct. OA added.

Sachinrpat · Answer

Please help to understand - how can I conclude "developing country women = industrial country women" if there is no link given in the passage?
If I'm not wrong, conclusion specifically talks about women in developing countries.

sayantanc2k · Answer

You don't need equate developing country to industrialized country. The argument discusses total human population: reduction in number of children that women in developing countries give birth to may be compensated by increase in number of children taking birth in the same countries or other countries. Therefore it does not matter whether developing country women = industrial country women.

rakaisraka · Answer

Hi experts, I'm not able to understand how women in developing countries are related to women in developed countries. It's given that the reason is women in developing countries , and option C says women in developed countries will continue. It doesn't say that they will start giving birth to more children. I don't think it is weekening the conclusion. Please advise

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sayantanc2k · Answer

Please refer to the post just above yours. The conclusion is about global population - not population of some particular countries.

rakaisraka · Answer

Hi, The reason why I'm not able to understand is because - women in Developed countires giving birth to more than 4 children is already there. They are not increasing the rate.What matters is the women in developing countries. The conclusion is based on the women in developing countries.

sayantanc2k · Answer

You are absolutely right. The part 'continue to' spoils option C. Option C has been modified to rectify the error. Thank you for pointing out.

Demographic experts predict that the global human population

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Demographic experts predict that the global human population

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