In the 1970 elections in the country of Wilsonia, a total of 15 women were elected to the country’s national legislative body—Wilsonia's 100-person senate; in 1990 a total of 54 women were elected to this body. Yet the proportion of successful candidates among those women who ran for seats in Wilsonia’s senate was no higher in 1990 than it had been in 1970.The statements above, if true, most strongly support which of the following conclusions?This question is a Conclusion question. So, the correct answer will be a conclusion that is logically supported by the statements in the passage.
A. More women were elected to Wilsonia’s senate in 1990 than in any previous year.This choice is not supported. After all, we have information on only 1970 and 1990. So, there are many years "previous" to 1990 for which there is no information.
Thus, it doesn't make sense to conclude that more women were elected in 1990 than in "any previous year."
Eliminate.
B. The proportion of successful candidates among those men who ran for seats in Wilsonia’s senate was lower in 1990 than it had been in 1970.This choice is a trap. It could seem to be correct since, given that there are 100 people in the senate and 15 women were elected to it in 1970 while 54 women were elected to it in 1990, it must be the case that there were more men in the senate in 1970 than in 1990. After all, 100 - 15 > 100 - 54.
At the same time, this choice is not about the number of men in the senate. It's about "the proportion of successful candidates among those men who ran for seats in Wilsonia’s senate."
To know the proportion of successful candidates among those who ran, we need to know not just the number of successful candidates but also the total number of men who ran for seats. After all, the proportion of candidates who were successful is \(\frac{\text{canditates who ran}}{\text{total candidates}}\).
So, without information on the total number of men candidates, we don't have support for this choice.
Eliminate.
C. Fewer candidates ran for Wilsonia’s senate in 1990 than had done so in 1970.This choice is not logically supported.
After all, for 1970, we have only the number of women elected and not the number who ran.
For 1990, we have the number of women elected and have the fact that the proportion of successful women candidates was lower than that for 1970, which means that more, rather than fewer, women ran in 1990 than in 1970, as we will see in considering choice (D).
Finally, we have no information at all on how many men ran either year.
Eliminate.
D. More women ran for seats in Wilsonia’s senate in 1990 than in 1970.Regarding women who ran for seats in the senate in the two years, we know the following:
1970: 15 women elected to the senate
1990: 54 women elected to the senate
1990: The proportion of successful candidates among those women who ran for seats in Wilsonia’s senate was no higher than it had been in 1970.
That means:
\(\frac{\text{1990 women elected}}{\text{1990 women who ran}} ≤ \frac{\text{1970 women elected}}{\text{1970 women who ran}}\)
Thus, we have the following:
\(\frac{54}{\text{1990 women who ran}} ≤ \frac{15}{\text{1970 women who ran}}\)
\(54 * \text{1970 women who ran} ≤ 15 * \text{1990 women who ran}\)
\(\frac{54}{15} * \text{1970 women who ran} ≤ \text{1990 women who ran}\)
Since \(\frac{54}{15} > 1\), we can see that \(\text{1990 women who ran} > \text{1970 women who ran}\).
So, this choice is well supported.
Keep.
E. Many of the women who ran successfully for seats in Wilsonia’s senate in the 1970s and 1980s were still in office in 1990.This choice is not supported since we have information on only the number of women who were elected in each year. We don't have information on which women were elected or were in office.
Eliminate.
Correct answer: D