The village is overrun by poisonous snakes. The mayor argues that payi

All 4 choices except C , weaken the argument because of highlighted text. C is neither talking of any economic criteria nor talking of dead snakes.

Was caught between B and C...

B) village taxes will triple if the mayor's proposal is implemented ==> Why would the villagers implement the plan if they know that they will later be burdened by taxes, which will be another problem for them. Hence there are chances that the Mayor's plan might fail.

C) the villagers do not trust the mayor ==> The only option left. Hence the answer.

A. If snake breeding is in the economic interest of the villagers they will not kill it , hence this will weaken the mayors arguement.

B. Yes it can be possible, that tax might increase to support the " Snake Kill Programme " . Now lets think logically,

The problem is snakes , if villagers can get rid of it at their own expenses what is the use. They are killing the poisonous snakes and paying more tax , how can it go side by side... ??

Rather the villagers may opt not to receive any reward ad kill the snakes themselves, without the involvement of mayor and additional tax.

C. Irrelevant to the discussion.

D. If snakes help keeping rat population under control they will not kill the snakes and the mayors plan will not be successful.

E. If the drug company pays $ 15 the villagers will bring the dead snakes to the Drug company for better rewards and the mayors plan won't be successful....


(C) is irrelevant to the discussion , and in this case doesn't weaken the mayors plan, hence this is our answer..

GMATNinja VeritasKarishma

Can you please shed ur thoughts here...Doesn't C weaken the basic plan of the mayor...

(C) doesn't weaken the plan, but then neither does (B).

The village is overrun by poisonous snakes.

Mayor's Plan:
If we pay $10 for each dead snake that a villager brings in, the village will get rid of snakes.

Note that the mayor's plan is not to "announce" that $10 will be given. He is saying "pay $10". Whether villagers trust the mayor or not is irrelevant. If each villager who brings in a dead snake is given $10, trust on the mayor does not matter. The plan should be successful.

B) village taxes will triple if the mayor's proposal is implemented
Whether the plan will be successful or not depends on what happens after the plan is implemented.
Once the mayor has implemented the plan, the people can either catch snakes and get $10 making his plan successful or they can refuse to do so which leads to failure of his plan. If the taxes do increase, there is nothin that people can do. They might as well earn $10 for each snake and make up the lost money. It is unlikely that they will all decide to boycott the plan to bring the village back o original state.

If faced with this question, I will go for (C) but I don't like this question much.

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