narayanduttarohit80042gmat1393Official Explanation
1. The author’s primary concern is to
Explanation
This is a main idea question. The author begins by stating that it would be useful to have a general index to measure welfare and notes that some have even suggested the GNP might be adapted for that purpose. Then the author proceeds to demonstrate why such an index cannot be constructed. Generally, then, the author shows the defects in a proposal for a general index of welfare, and (D) nicely describes this development.
(A) is incorrect, for the author never produces any arguments for the position being attacked. Even when raising points such as the suggestion that hours worked might be a measure of cost of production, the author is only mentioning the position to attack it.
(B) is incorrect since the author is attacking and not defending the proposal discussed.
(C) is easily eliminated because the author never attacks the sincerity of an opponent.
Finally, (E) is wrong, for the author never reviews any literature on the subject under discussion.
The correct answer is (D)
2. The author implies that use of man-hours is not an appropriate measure of real cost because it
Explanation
This is an inference question. In the second paragraph the author mentions that a general index of welfare would have to include some measure of the cost of producing the output. The author first suggests that someone might think hours worked would do the trick, but then rejects that position by noting that hours worked, as a statistic, does not take account of the quality of the work time, e.g., long hours versus short hours, working conditions, satisfaction of workers.
(A) best describes this argument.
(B) is incorrect, for the author discusses environmental costs in connection with another aspect of a general index.
(C) is incorrect since this distinction is never used by the author.
(D) is incorrect since this is not mentioned as a goal of such a measure.
Finally, (E) confuses the GNP, mentioned in the first part of the paragraph, with the index to measure real costs.
The correct answer is (A)
3. It can be inferred from the passage that the most important reason a single index of welfare cannot be designed is
Explanation
This is an inference question that asks about the main point of the passage. The author adduces several objections to the idea of a general index of welfare. Then the final blow is delivered in the last paragraph: Even if you could devise measures for these various components of a general index, any combination or weighting of the individual measures would reflect only the judgment (personal preference) of the weighter. For this reason alone, argues the author, the entire idea is unworkable.
(C) makes this point.
(A) and (D) can be eliminated since the author never uses cost or time as arguments against the index.
(B) can be eliminated on similar ground. The author recognizes that considerable research would be needed to attempt such measures, yet does not bother to use that as an objection.
(E) can be eliminated for a similar reason. The author may have some arguments against the way such statistics are gathered now, but does not bother to make them. The author’s argument has the structure: Even assuming there are such data, we cannot combine these statistics to get a general measure of the quality of the environment.
The correct answer is (C)
4. The author regards the idea of a general index of welfare as a(n)
Explanation
This is a tone question, and the justification for
(A) is already implicit in the discussion thus far. The author sees fatal theoretical weaknesses inherent in the idea of an index of welfare, regarding such a notion as an unrealistic, that is, unachievable, dream.
(B) is incorrect because the author does not believe the idea can ever be implemented.
(C), (D), and (E) can be eliminated on substantially the same ground.
The correct answer is (A)
5. According to the passage, the GNP is a(n)
Explanation
This is an explicit idea question. In the second paragraph, the author acknowledges that the GNP is a fairly accurate measure of output. There is no suggestion made that the GNP can estimate needs, predict welfare, or measure welfare generally. So we can eliminate the remaining choices except A
The correct answer is (A)
6. According to the passage, an adequate measure of need must take into account all of the following EXCEPT
Explanation
This is an explicit idea question, with a thought reverser. (A), (B), (C), and (D) are all mentioned in the third paragraph as aspects of a needs index. The fourth para-graph does not treat the idea of a needs index but the idea of a physical environment index. That is where the author discusses the items mentioned in (E). So the author does mention the items covered by (E), but not as part of a needs index.
The correct answer is (E)
7. The passage is most likely
Explanation
This is an application question. We are looking for the most likely place for the passage. To be sure, it is possible that the passage might appear in any of the five suggested locations, but the most likely place is that suggested by (A). This could easily be one of a series of papers addressed to a group meeting to discuss public policy decisions.
As for (B), it is not likely that the passage would be an introduction to a general text on statistics. It is too firmly dedicated to a particular idea, and the use of statistics is in a way subordinate to the theoretical discussion.
(C) is inappropriate since the discussion bears only remotely on programs to aid the poor.
(D) is even less likely since the passage does not discuss the foundations of government.
Finally, (E) is to a certain extent plausible, but (A) is more closely connected to the content of the passage.
The correct answer is (A)
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