Journalist : In late 1994, the present government of the Republic of

Journalist: In late 1994, the present government of the Republic of Bellam came into power. Each year since then, about thirty journalists have been imprisoned for printing articles that criticize the government. In 1994, under the old government, only six journalists were imprisoned for criticizing the government. So the old government was more tolerant of criticism by the press than the new one is.

Politician: But in 1994 only six journalists criticized the government, and now journalists routinely do.

The politician challenges the journalist’s argument by doing which of the following?

P : in the late 1994 with new government, about thirty journalists were imprisoned.
P : in 1994 with old government, only six journalists were imprisoned
A : number of journalist who criticize did not change.
C : older government is more tolerant to criticism.


(A) Presenting data that extend further into the past than the journalist’s data
-> Both are talking about same period.

(B) Introducing evidence that undermines an assumption of the journalist’s argument
-> Correct, Journalists impetuously implies that the number of journalists who criticize the government did not change but only the number who are arrested has changed.

(C) Questioning the accuracy of the evidence presented in support of the journalist’s conclusion
-> Nope, never talked about accuracy.

(D) Pointing out that the argument illegitimately draws a general conclusion on the basis of a sample of only a few cases
-> thirty and six was not a few case but was the entire data.

(E) Stating that the argument treats information about some members of a group as if it applied to all members of that group
-> Nope, politician was talking about the assumption not a method about applying a certain data into conclusion.

Journalist: In late 1994, the present government of the Republic of Bellam came into power. Each year since then, about thirty journalists have been imprisoned for printing articles that criticize the government. In 1994, under the old government, only six journalists were imprisoned for criticizing the government. So the old government was more tolerant of criticism by the press than the new one is.

Politician: But in 1994 only six journalists criticized the government, and now journalists routinely do.

The politician challenges the journalist’s argument by doing which of the following?

(A) Presenting data that extend further into the past than the journalist’s data

(B) Introducing evidence that undermines an assumption of the journalist’s argument

(C) Questioning the accuracy of the evidence presented in support of the journalist’s conclusion

(D) Pointing out that the argument illegitimately draws a general conclusion on the basis of a sample of only a few cases

(E) Stating that the argument treats information about some members of a group as if it applied to all members of that group


Can someone please explain how to eliminate A and C

Hi BrentGMATPrepNow, could you help clarify why E is not correct? Thanks Brent

Let's start with you explaining why you believe E is correct, and we'll go from there.
_________________

The politician challenges the journalist's argument by doing the following:

(B) Introducing evidence that undermines an assumption of the journalist's argument.

The journalist's argument is based on the increase in the number of journalists imprisoned under the new government compared to the old government. However, the politician challenges this assumption by pointing out that in 1994, only six journalists criticized the government, suggesting that there was limited criticism at that time. The politician's statement undermines the journalist's assumption that the old government was more tolerant of criticism by implying that the increase in imprisoned journalists may be due to an increase in the number of journalists criticizing the government rather than a change in government tolerance.