Editorial: Our city's public transportation agency is facing a budget shortfall. The fastest growing part of the budget has been employee retirement benefits, which are exceptionally generous. Unless the budget shortfall is resolved, transportation service will be cut, and many transportation employees will lose their jobs. Thus, it would be in the employees' best interest for their union to accept cuts in retirement benefits. Which of the following is an assumption the editorial's argument requires? (A) The transportation employees' union should not accept cuts in retirement benefits if doing so would not be in the employees' best interest. (B) The only feasible way for the agency to resolve the budget shortfall would involve cutting transportation service and eliminating jobs. (C) Other things being equal, it is in the transportation employees' interest to have exceptionally generous retirement benefits. (D) Cutting the retirement benefits would help resolve the agency's budget shortfall. (E) The transportation employees' union will not accept cuts in retirement benefits if doing so will not allow more transportation employees to keep their jobs. CR11741.01 OG2020 NEW QUESTION Argument Construction Situation An editorial indicates that the fastest growing part of a particular city's public transportation agency's budget is employee retirement benefits. The agency's budget has a shortfall. If the shortfall is not resolved, transportation service will be cut and many of the employees will lose their jobs. Reasoning What must be true if we are to accept the editorial's conclusion, that it is in the employee's best interest to accept cuts in retirement benefits? If cutting the employees’ retirement benefits would not be sufficient to resolve the budget shortfall , then it may well not be in employees’ best interest to accept such cuts. The reasons given for accepting the cuts are related to the undesirable consequences of a continued shortfall. (A) The argument is about whether the union's accepting the cuts is in fact in the employees’ best interest, and does not require any assumption about whether employees should accept what is in their best interest. (B) This is incompatible with an assumption made by the argument. The argument assumes that cutting the retirement benefits of the employees would help resolve the budget shortfall. (C) The argument would actually be stronger if it were NOT the case that it is in the employees’ interest to have exceptionally generous retirement benefits. (D) Correct . If cutting retirement benefits would not help resolve the agency's budget shortfall, then cutting those benefits would not help the employees avoid job cuts. (E) The argument does not depend on assuming anything regarding what factors would motivate the union's acceptance.

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Editorial: Our city's public transportation agency is facing a budget

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Aditya9270

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aggvipul

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Could an expert please weigh in?

Q1.
A. The transportation employees' union should not accept cuts in retirement benefits if doing so would not be in the employees' best interest.
E. The transportation employees' union will not accept cuts in retirement benefits if doing so will not allow more transportation employees to keep their jobs.

In A and E, does "doing so" stand for ACCEPTING or NOT ACCEPTING?

Q2.
Could someone please try negating A and E? Negating them seems to hurt the argument.

Thanks and regards

TheRzS Q1 -"doing so" here is indicating "Accepting"
Q2- Negating the option A. rather warps the information or the intent of what is being said, try this
A1. The transportation employees' union should accept cuts in retirement benefits if doing so would not be in the employees' best interest- it rather now intents to say that employees should accept loss
A2. The transportation employees' union should not accept cuts in retirement benefits if doing so would be in the employees' best interest- same here, it intents to say that employees should accept loss
Therefore, it does not hurt the argument rather warps the gist of question stem
would be happy to help in case anything is still unclear

GMATNinja
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VeritasKarishma

Dear Experts,

Please suggest what negated statements would option A and E have,
since there are two verbs -('should not accept' and 'would not be in favour')

do we need to negate both or any one of them, and on what grounds should we negate the verb out of the two

thanks

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Aditya9270

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First note that all options need not be negated. Learn to identify the irrelevant options right away to save time.

When negating a conditional statement, we negate the main clause.

"If A, then B" negation is "If A, then not B"

Also note that "negation" is not "opposite". It is the complimentary set.
So negation of "B must happen" is NOT "B must not happen."
It would be "B can happen or may not happen". Basically, we don't have strong feelings for whether it should or should not happen. Either is acceptable.

Negation of
If accepting cuts would not be in the employees' best interest, the union should not accept cuts.
will be
If accepting cuts would not be in the employees' best interest, the union may or may not accept cuts.

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Did you notice a nice little Trap in B?
(I did not and took me 10 mins to figure it out)

Here is the 1-sentence explanation why B is wrong: B says there is only one way of resolving budget shortfall which is service+job cuts. I missed this while reading. The stem presents these as alternatives to each other but B presents them as a single solution. Did you catch it?

(B) The only feasible way for the agency to resolve the budget shortfall would involve cutting transportation service and eliminating jobs.

If (B) said the only ways (plural), it would have been harder to eliminate. D is still more GMAT-like where it tackles the main rather than peripheral argument.

This is why every word on CR matters. If you missed this question and feel as silly as I do, make sure you fix your attention on the next question and notice the plural vs. singular. It is a nice little trap.

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Updated on: 18 Nov 2021, 17:34

Originally posted by jabhatta2 on 18 Nov 2021, 16:47.
Last edited by jabhatta2 on 18 Nov 2021, 17:34, edited 8 times in total.

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Hi VeritasKarishma

Quote:

Option B) The only feasible way for the agency to resolve the budget shortfall would involve cutting transportation service and eliminating jobs.

When one negates B, negated B becomes

The only feasible way for the agency to resolve the budget shortfalf MAY OR MAY NOT involve cutting transportation service and eliminating jobs

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jabhatta2

Hi VeritasKarishma

Quote:

Option B) The only feasible way for the agency to resolve the budget shortfall would involve cutting transportation service and eliminating jobs.

When one negates B, negated B becomes

The only feasible way for the agency to resolve the budget shortfalf MAY OR MAY NOT involve cutting transportation service and eliminating jobs

Option (B) is tangential to our argument.

Note that as per our argument, the means to resolve budget shortfall is "retirement benefit cuts". If budget shortfall is not resolved, the result will be "cutting transportation service and eliminating jobs". Cutting transportation & eliminating jobs is not how you resolve budget shortfall. That will be the impact of budget shortfall in case it is not resolved.

Hence the argument is not assuming that "cutting transportation & eliminating jobs" is the only way to resolve budget shortfall. It is suggesting that cutting retirement benefits is a way to resolve budget shortfall.

Also, when you negate (B), you get:

(B) The only feasible way for the agency to resolve the budget shortfall would involve cutting transportation service and eliminating jobs.
Negated (B) There are other feasible ways to resolve budget shortfall too.

But we already know that. One way has already been discussed in our argument (cutting retirement benefits). It does not negate the conclusion.

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dcummins

The answer choices makes it seem as if the argument is what is best for the agency not for the employees.

The official explanation reasoning states: "If cutting the employees' retirement benefits would not be sufficient to resolve the budget shortfall, then it may well not be in employees' best interest".

Either way, cutting benefits is never in an employees best interest, but now I see that if benefits are cut and the shortfall still isn't resolved then the Agency may still very well cut jobs, so this is why answer (C) is correct!

Where does it say this? ie, the Official explanation reasoning that you state.

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dcummins

Where does it say this? ie, the Official explanation reasoning that you state.

This reasoning is deduced.

We are given that there is a budget shortfall i.e. money is short.
Retirement benefits are very generous i.e. a lot of money is given to retirees.
If more money is not generated/saved, services will be cut and employees may start losing their jobs.

Hence, the conclusion is that reducing retirement benefits to save money (so that services are not cut and employees do not lose jobs) is in the best interests of employees.

The assumption of course is that reducing retirement benefits will lead to saving enough money so that services are not cut and employees do not lose jobs.
Otherwise, their retirement benefits will be cut and still jobs will be lost. So it will become a lose-lose for the employees.

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Hi GMATNinja - how do you re-phrase (A) and (E) ?

The double negatives (marked in red) coupled with the "IF STATEMENT" [underline] is very hard to wrap your head around

Quote:

(A) The transportation employees' union should not accept cuts in retirement benefits if doing so would not be in the employees' best interest.

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Updated on: 05 Jan 2023, 09:48

Originally posted by jabhatta2 on 05 Jan 2023, 08:18.
Last edited by jabhatta2 on 05 Jan 2023, 09:48, edited 1 time in total.

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Public Transportation Budget

Step 1: Identify the Question

The word assumption in the question stem indicates that this is a Find the Assumption question.

Step 2: Deconstruct the Argument

Budget shortfall

ERB generous, fastest growing cost

Don’t fix budget → Cut service, job losses

© Accept cuts to ERB

Note: ERB is used as an abbreviation for employee retirement benefits.

Step 3: Pause and State the Goal

On Find the Assumption questions, the correct answer should be necessary to draw the conclusion. Remind yourself of the key logic of the argument: accepting cuts to retirement benefits is in the best interest of employees (because doing so will prevent job losses).

Step 4: Work from Wrong to Right

(A) The argument is not concerned with the motivations of the union or what the union should do in general. Although the conclusion states that the cuts would be in the employees’ best interest in this case, whether the union would accept the cuts for this reason or for some other reason (for example, the negotiation is easier) is not relevant.

(B) This answer weakens the conclusion. The conclusion is based on a belief that if the union accepts the benefit cuts the budget shortfall can be resolved without cutting service and jobs.

(C) If anything, this answer weakens the argument. If employees prefer generous retirement benefits, then it is less likely that accepting cuts to these benefits will be in their best interest.

(D) CORRECT. This answer establishes that the potential savings from cutting retirement benefits could actually resolve the budget shortfall (and subsequently prevent service cuts and job losses). While the argument states that employee retirement benefits are the fastest growing part of the budget, it does not discuss the portion of the budget retirement benefits make up. Consider the Negation Test for further proof; the negation of a correct answer will ruin the argument. The negation of this answer is “Cutting retirement benefits might not help resolve the budget shortfall.” If the budget shortfall is not resolved, then services get cut and jobs are lost: the plan will fail.

(E) The specific motivations of the union are not relevant. The argument depends on the union choosing to accept the cuts to retirement benefits, but the union could do so for a variety of reasons: to save jobs, to get raises for some employees, or because they are bad negotiators.

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jabhatta2

Hi GMATNinja - how do you re-phrase (A) and (E) ?

The double negatives (marked in red) coupled with the "IF STATEMENT" [underline] is very hard to wrap your head around

Quote:

(A) The transportation employees' union should not accept cuts in retirement benefits if doing so would not be in the employees' best interest.

Like this:
The transportation employees' union should accept cuts in retirement benefits "only" if doing so would be in the employees' best interest.

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jabhatta2

Hi GMATNinja - how do you re-phrase (A) and (E) ?

The double negatives (marked in red) coupled with the "IF STATEMENT" [underline] is very hard to wrap your head around

Quote:

(A) The transportation employees' union should not accept cuts in retirement benefits if doing so would not be in the employees' best interest.

Like this:
The transportation employees' union should accept cuts in retirement benefits "only" if doing so would be in the employees' best interest.

0Lucky0 - is the blue statement you wrote above, a re-phrase of (A) or is the blue statement a negation of A ?

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Updated on: 05 Jan 2023, 09:43

Originally posted by jabhatta2 on 05 Jan 2023, 08:34.
Last edited by jabhatta2 on 05 Jan 2023, 09:43, edited 1 time in total.

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KarishmaB

Hence the argument is not assuming that "cutting transportation & eliminating jobs" is the only way to resolve budget shortfall. It is suggesting that cutting retirement benefits is a way to resolve budget shortfall.

Also, when you negate (B), you get:

(B) The only feasible way for the agency to resolve the budget shortfall would involve cutting transportation service and eliminating jobs.
Negated (B) There are other feasible ways to resolve budget shortfall too.
.

Thank you so much KarishmaB. Just following up on negated B

Negated (B) There are other feasible ways to resolve budget shortfall too.

Just to crystalize my understanding of Negated B

Does the negation EXCLUDE "cutting transportation service and eliminating jobs" as a method to resolve the budget shortfall ?

I don't think Negated B excludes "cutting transportation service and eliminating jobs" as a method to resolve the budget shortfall, correct ?

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jabhatta2

Like this:
The transportation employees' union should accept cuts in retirement benefits "only" if doing so would be in the employees' best interest.

0Lucky0 - is the blue statement you wrote above, a re-phrase of (A) or is the blue statement a negation of A ?

re-phrase. Neat trick. Isn't it?

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jabhatta2

re-phrase. Neat trick. Isn't it?

Yes

0Lucky0 -

Could you go over the theory as to how you know about this ? what is the theory behind this ?

What do you think of my re-phrases in these simple analogies ?

Quote:

Analogy 1 : you should not drive a car if you havent passed your car exam
Re-phrase : you should drive ONLY IF YOU HAVE passed

Quote:

Analogy 2 : You should not sleep if you haven’t eaten
Re-phrase : You should sleep ONLY if you have eaten

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jabhatta2

0Lucky0

jabhatta2

re-phrase. Neat trick. Isn't it?

Yes

Could you go over the theory as to how you know about this ? what is the theory behind this ?

What do you think of my re-phrases in these simple analogies ?

Quote:

Analogy 1 : you should not drive a car if you havent passed your car exam
Re-phrase : you should drive ONLY IF YOU HAVE passed

Quote:

Analogy 2 : You should not sleep if you haven’t eaten
Re-phrase : You should sleep ONLY if you have eaten

I am not sure if what you have posted is allowed here. I mean, it's off-topic. So would most likely look like spam to others.

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05 Jan 2023, 09:45

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Hi KarishmaB - is my negation accurate for (a) and (e) ?

theory :
If A, then B

Negation is – If A, then may or may not be B

(Option A)
If cuts in retirement benefits are not in the employees' best interest, union should not accept cuts in retirement benefits

(Negation A)
If cuts in retirement benefits are not in the employees' best interest, union may or may not accept cuts in retirement benefits

(Option E)
If cuts in retirement benefits will not allow more transportation employees to keep their jobs, the union will not accept cuts in retirement benefits.

(Negation E)
If cuts in retirement benefits will not allow more transportation employees to keep their jobs, the union may or may not accept cuts in retirement benefits.

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05 Jan 2023, 11:56

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Quote:

Editorial: Our city's public transportation agency is facing a budget shortfall. The fastest growing part of the budget has been employee retirement benefits, which are exceptionally generous. Unless the budget shortfall is resolved, transportation service will be cut, and many transportation employees will lose their jobs. Thus, it would be in the employees' best interest for their union to accept cuts in retirement benefits.

Which of the following is an assumption the editorial's argument requires?
(A) The transportation employees' union should not accept cuts in retirement benefits if doing so would not be in the employees' best interest.

Hi avigutman - I have seen multiple opinions on why (A) is wrong. I didn't think I got a very good understanding.

Here is my analysis on (A) and why (A) is wrong

(A) can re-phrased in positive terms, thereby making (A) easier to follow.
(A) re-phrased is "Union should accept (cuts in retirement benefits) ONLY IF (cuts in retirement benefits) ARE IN THE INTEREST OF employees.

The reason why (A) is wrong is because (A) is an inference of the red conclusion
Essentially (A) and the red conclusion are the same.
If you say the red conclusion, you are by definition, also saying (A)
Hence, (A) is NOT AN ASSUMPTION but rather just a inference on the red statement

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05 Jan 2023, 17:12

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jabhatta2

Here is my analysis on (A) and why (A) is wrong

(A) can re-phrased in positive terms, thereby making (A) easier to follow.
(A) re-phrased is "Union should accept (cuts in retirement benefits) ONLY IF (cuts in retirement benefits) ARE IN THE INTEREST OF employees.

The reason why (A) is wrong is because (A) is an inference of the red conclusion
Essentially (A) and the red conclusion are the same.
If you say the red conclusion, you are by definition, also saying (A)
Hence, (A) is NOT AN ASSUMPTION but rather just a inference on the red statement

Answer choice (A) makes a claim about what the union SHOULD or SHOULDN'T do. We can't infer that based on anything in the argument, jabhatta2. Furthermore, I can't think of any argument for which such a claim (about what someone should or shouldn't do) could be a necessary assumption.

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Updated on: 05 Jan 2023, 19:19

Originally posted by jabhatta2 on 05 Jan 2023, 18:49.
Last edited by jabhatta2 on 05 Jan 2023, 19:19, edited 7 times in total.

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Thanks so much avigutman - I am afraid I am not a 100 % sure how to eliminate (A).

While I do agree (D) has to be true – I am unable to eliminate (A).

Too me – (A) has to be true/ necessary to go from the intermediate conclusion /premise (red font) to the final conclusion (blue font)

Quote:

Editorial: Our city's public transportation agency is facing a budget shortfall. The fastest growing part of the budget has been employee retirement benefits, which are exceptionally generous. Unless the budget shortfall is resolved, transportation service will be cut, and many transportation employees will lose their jobs. Thus, it would be in the employees' best interest for their union to accept cuts in retirement benefits.

Which of the following is an assumption the editorial's argument requires?

(A) The union should not accept cuts in retirement benefits if doing so would not be in the employees' best interest.

2nd attempt) Here is my attempt on why (A) is wrong

I first have to re-phrase (A) as the following

Quote:

Re-phrased (A) : the Union should accept (cuts in retirement benefits) ONLY IF (cuts in retirement benefits) ARE IN THE INTEREST OF employees.

I dont think we need re-phrased (A) to be 100 % true to go from the red to the blue. I am not able to enunciate why though

I think if there was an additional option (F) that said

Quote:

(option F) Saving jobs is in the best interest of employees

I think (option F) is necessary to go from the red to the blue

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05 Jan 2023, 20:22

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jabhatta2

Quote:

Editorial: Our city's public transportation agency is facing a budget shortfall. The fastest growing part of the budget has been employee retirement benefits, which are exceptionally generous. Unless the budget shortfall is resolved, transportation service will be cut, and many transportation employees will lose their jobs. Thus, it would be in the employees' best interest for their union to accept cuts in retirement benefits.

Which of the following is an assumption the editorial's argument requires?

(A) The union should not accept cuts in retirement benefits if doing so would not be in the employees' best interest.

2nd attempt) Here is my attempt on why (A) is wrong

I first have to re-phrase (A) as the following

Quote:

Re-phrased (A) : the Union should accept (cuts in retirement benefits) ONLY IF (cuts in retirement benefits) ARE IN THE INTEREST OF employees.

I dont think we need re-phrased (A) to be 100 % true to go from the red to the blue. I am not able to enunciate why though

The blue font makes a claim about what would be in the employees' best interest, jabhatta2. Not about what the union's interests are, nor about what the union should do. For example, it's possible that the union doesn't care at all about the employees' best interest, and that wouldn't undermine the editorial's conclusion.

jabhatta2

I think if there was an additional option (F) that said

Quote:

(option F) Saving jobs is in the best interest of employees

I think (option F) is necessary to go from the red to the blue

Correct. Notice how this doesn't make any claims about the union?

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