In Tildernia, the number of reported paid family leave days taken by employed fathers after the birth of a child has declined 5 percent in the last three years. However, perhaps part of the decline is due to fathers using paid personal leave or vacation days to take time off following the birth of a child. After all, studies show that men who take paid family leave days are more frequently overlooked for promotion than those who do not use this benefit.

Which of the following, if true in Tildernia, most strongly supports the proposed explanation?


A. In the last three years, there has been no increase in the total number of paid personal leave or vacation days used by employed men. Incorrect

this cant strengthens argument, total number of paid personal leave was unchanged; if number of people increase per person leave decrease

B. When employees take family leave days after the birth of a child, they also receive a small increase in pay to assist in caring for that child. Incorrect

extra info

C. A continuing shift in social attitudes has led to an increase in the number of men who assume more responsibilities in the household. Incorrect

contradicts with argument

D. Employers who encourage fathers to take paid family leave after the birth of a child do not in general have lower benefit costs than employers who do not encourage fathers to do so. Incorrect

not helpful to strengthens argument

E. In the last three years, the average number of births per household has gradually increased. Correct

number of newborn babies were increased, but paid family leave decrease because people are interested in promotion

Strengthen type, accordingly we need to identify and then support the conclusion. Hence

Answer seems to be A.

In Tildernia, the number of reported paid family leave days taken by employed fathers after the birth of a child has declined 5 percent in the last three years. However, perhaps part of the decline is due to fathers using paid personal leave or vacation days to take time off following the birth of a child. After all, studies show that men who take paid family leave days are more frequently overlooked for promotion than those who do not use this benefit.

Which of the following, if true in Tildernia, most strongly supports the proposed explanation?

We need to strengthen the argument - so find an answer that will add to the understanding of the argument.

A. In the last three years, there has been no increase in the total number of paid personal leave or vacation days used by employed men.
Irrelevant.

B. When employees take family leave days after the birth of a child, they also receive a small increase in pay to assist in caring for that child.
Not mentioned in the passage and does not support the conclusion anyway. In fact, it sort of contradicts the entire point of the passage.

C. A continuing shift in social attitudes has led to an increase in the number of men who assume more responsibilities in the household.
May be true but out of context.

D. Employers who encourage fathers to take paid family leave after the birth of a child do not in general have lower benefit costs than employers who do not encourage fathers to do so.
May be true but this does not help the argument.

E. In the last three years, the average number of births per household has gradually increased.
Correct - If this is true, then the below line will hold true.
"fathers using paid personal leave or vacation days to take time off following the birth of a child"

Pre-thinking: Fathers who took leaves are not considered for promotion. And recently, less paid leaves are taken by fathers. For support the argument, we need to see a situation arises when father preferred not to take leaves.

Which of the following, if true in Tildernia, most strongly supports the proposed explanation?

A. In the last three years, there has been no increase in the total number of paid personal leave or vacation days used by employed men. -> no increase, doesn't mean decrease. Incorrect.

B. When employees take family leave days after the birth of a child, they also receive a small increase in pay to assist in caring for that child. -> then, employees will take leave. It will weaken the argument. Incorrect.

C. A continuing shift in social attitudes has led to an increase in the number of men who assume more responsibilities in the household. -> Irrelevant.

D. Employers who encourage fathers to take paid family leave after the birth of a child do not in general have lower benefit costs than employers who do not encourage fathers to do so. -> why do we compare other employers. Incorrect.

E. In the last three years, the average number of births per household has gradually increased. -> If birth increased, fathers found promotions are more important and leaves decreased.

So, I think E.

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The question asks you to support the proposed explanation. The author explains men's lower usage of paid family leave by speculating that, because of decreased promotion opportunities, men are now using vacation or personal leave days to take time off from work after the birth of a child. To strengthen this idea, find the choice that provides some evidence for this reasoning, either by providing direct support for the idea that men are using alternative forms of time off or by eliminating a potential alternative explanation.

(A) has no effect on the argument and is incorrect. The number of personal leave or vacation days taken is not related to how those days were used. Perhaps men used to take all their personal and vacation time for other reasons and are now using it to spend time with their newborns, in which case the argument would be strengthened. But perhaps men are using this time off in the way they always have, which would weaken the argument. There is not enough information to make this determination.

(B) actually weakens the argument. If men would receive a salary increase connected to taking family leave, they would be more likely to take this form of time off rather than some other kind.

(C) has no effect on the argument. The shift in social attitudes may mean men are spending more time with their children, but it doesn't affect how the men classify their hours.

(D) also has no effect on the argument. The cost of benefits is not mentioned in the argument and would have no effect on men's concerns about receiving promotions.

(E) is correct. If the number of children born in the last three years had gone down, that would be an alternative explanation for the decrease in the number of family days taken for the birth of a child. (E) strengthens the explanation in the argument by removing the possibility of that alternative
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Since B says that the men are not doing it for the money I also feel it is a contender because it rules out the possibility they are interested in money, but instead are actually focused on promotions

Don’t agree with OA. “Has increased” is way too strong and is not the opposite of “decrease”, which should be “not decreased”. If avg births were decreasing, this would be a reason to explain for higher unclaimed family leaves.

But increasing births is in no way strengthening the main argument that motives to take leave Y(personal paid leave) rather than X(family leave) are driven by the motives of promotion.

I’m not very convinced with this OA.

Posted from my mobile device

E. In the last three years, the average number of births per household has gradually increased. >> Birth rate has increased but there's a 5% decline in the number of paid paternal leave taken by the father after the birth of his child. why? because there's a belief that you will be overlooked by your employer for promotion if you take paid leaves for the mentioned reason. So what? So, this strengthens the statement by supporting the sentiment that even though the childbirth has increased, however, the working fathers are not availing those paid paternal leaves.

it was a bit tricky. took me 2:12.

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