During the presidential debates, representatives from

Question

During the presidential debates, representatives from some states were dissatisfied with recent budget reforms, saying the new budget changes fail to meet the goal of directing federal funds to states who were most weakened by the financial recession. Their criticism is primarily based on the fact that most states that now receive additional funding are states with major city populations that enjoyed a budget surplus last year. What the critics disregard, though, is the fact that all the states who had their funding increased had been identified by an assessment committee as having greater than 20% decline in economic output over the past year. So regardless of the states' budget surplus or deficit, the federal government has not failed to distribute funds fairly.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

(A) Rather than being determined by budget surplus or deficit, the amount of funding a state needs depends on whether it has a major city or not.

(B) The number of states that have received an increase in funding represents a significant proportion of all the states in the country.

(C) The committee's assessment of states' financial needs has been deemed biased by the local media.

(D) The assessment committee did not identify many states with greater than 20% decline in economic output other than those with major cities and budget surpluses in the last year.

(E) States with budget deficits typically had more decline in economic output than did states with major cities and budget surpluses.

Original Source: Practice Pill Platform

jaituteja · Accepted Answer

Hi, I would like to add my 2 cents. Criticism: New budget changes failed to meet the goal of federal funds who were weakened by financial recession. States which receive additional funding===> enjoyed budget surplus last year Counter: All states whose funding increased === > had greater than 20% decline in economic output. Conclusion: Federal govt. did not fail to distribute funds Assumption: 1. Recession caused greater than 20% decline in economic o/p in states. 2. States who enjoyed budget surplus last year are the one's that showed greater than 20% decline in economic o/p. (A) Rather than being determined by budget surplus or deficit, the amount of funding a state needs depends on whether it has a major city or not. Amount of funding has no relevance here. The argument talks about additional funding. Also major city or not is not a concern. (B) The number of states that have received an increase in funding represents a significant proportion of all the states in the country. The criticism is made by states. The argument does not talk about funds at national level. (C) The committee's assessment of states' financial needs has been deemed biased by the local media. "Biased by local media" .. This fails the argument... This is not an assumption (D) The assessment committee did not identify many states with greater than 20% decline in economic output other than those with major cities and budget surpluses in the last year. This shows that the additional funding was provided to those states that have greater than 20% decline in economic output..Assumption 2 is correct. (E) States with budget deficits typically had more decline in economic output than did states with major cities and budget surpluses. budget surplus is in talks here... Budget deficit is out of question..!!! Assumption 2 connects the criticism and the counter statement. Thanks, Jai KUDOS if it HELPED..!!!

AMITAGARWAL2 · Answer

representatives saying more fund given to major cities which had surplus budget. critics are saying budget is given to cities with 20% decline in economy.
so arugument depends upon - cities which were identified were major cities with 20% decline. D

amitbharadwaj7 · Answer

What is wrong with choice E. Can any one explain?

cumulonimbus · Answer

It is the opposite of the information given in the question.

dqtuan9627 · Answer

Sorry but I still cannot understand why D is the assumption. Really appreciate if someone can help me. Thanks a lot

Wazza · Answer

The author thinks that the distribution was fair and the cities that got the funding were really the ones that needed it the most. Now look at option D, it says that "The assessment committee  did not  identify many states with greater than 20% decline in economic output other than those with major cities and budget surpluses in the last year." What do we learn from this: Suppose out of 20 cities, there were 5 cities that had the economic decline and were also big cities. Infact, these 5 cities where the ONLY cities that experienced the 20% decline. Hence the funding had to go to them only and to no other city. This is what the assessment committee found and this is what the author believes.

Hope it helped. 
Experts please pitch in and help out to clarify things better.

shamik123 · Answer

During the presidential debates, representatives from some states were dissatisfied with recent budget reforms, saying the new budget changes fail to meet the goal of directing federal funds to states who were most weakened by the financial recession. Their criticism is primarily based on the fact that most states that now receive additional funding are states with major city populations that enjoyed a budget surplus last year. What the critics disregard, though, is the fact that all the states who had their funding increased had been identified by an assessment committee as having greater than 20% decline in economic output over the past year. So regardless of the states' budget surplus or deficit, the federal government has not failed to distribute funds fairly.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

(A) Rather than being determined by budget surplus or deficit, the amount of funding a state needs depends on whether it has a major city or not.

(B) The number of states that have received an increase in funding represents a significant proportion of all the states in the country.

(C) The committee's assessment of states' financial needs has been deemed biased by the local media.

(D) The assessment committee did not identify many states with greater than 20% decline in economic output other than those with major cities and budget surpluses in the last year.

(E) States with budget deficits typically had more decline in economic output than did states with major cities and budget surpluses.

I have doubt that D is the correct answer.It is the opposite of the correct assumption made by the argument.
Criticism is that the distribution to of additional funding is biased as it is being given to Major Cities that enjoyed a budget surplus last year.The argument's conclusion is that distribution of funding is fair which is based on the assessment committee's decision.Hence assumption is assessment committee has given an unbiased decision and it has identified the states purely based on economic output (20% decline ) not based on the whether the city has major population or not.

So the assumption should be " The assessment committee  did identify  many states with greater than 20% decline in economic output other than those with major cities and budget surpluses in the last year. "

rohit8865 · Answer

It is infact a weakner indeed... 8-)

VerbalBot · Answer

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During the presidential debates, representatives from

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