Dear Friends,
Here is the detailed explanation to this question-
janet1511 wrote:
The violent crime rate (number of violent crimes per 1,000 residents) in Meadowbrook is 60 percent higher now than it was four years ago. The corresponding increase for Parkdale is only 10 percent. These figures support the conclusion that residents of Meadowbrook are more likely to become victims of violent crime than are residents of Parkdale.
The argument above is flawed because it fails to take into account
(A) changes in the population density of both Parkdale and Meadowbrook over the past four years
(B) how the rate of population growth in Meadowbrook over the past four years compares to the corresponding rate for Parkdale
(C) the ratio of violent to nonviolent crimes committed during the past four years in Meadowbrook and Parkdale
(D) the violent crime rates in Meadowbrook and Parkdale four years ago
(E) how Meadowbrook’s expenditures for crime prevention over the past four years compare to Parkdale’s expenditures
Source : GMATPrep Default Exam Pack
Mind-map: Meadowbrook’s violent crime rate % increase > Parkdale’s → Meadowbrook residents’ chances of facing violent crime > Parkdale’s
Missing link: Between greater % increase in Meadowbrook’s crime rate than in Parkdale’s and conclusion that Meadowbrook’s citizens are more likely to face violent crime.
Expectation from the correct answer choice: To undermine conclusion that Meadowbrook’s greater percentage violent crime rate increase means its citizens are more likely to face said crimes.
Choice A: This answer choice only provides for different change rates of the cities’ respective population densities, which would not affect the likelihood of citizens to face violent crime; population density measures the number of people located in a specific region of the city relative to other regions, while the likelihood of citizens to face violent crime takes into account the ratio of violent crimes to the population of the city as a whole; this answer choice does not address the link between the greater percentage increase in Meadowbrook’s violent crime rate and the corresponding greater likelihood of its citizens to face violent crime; therefore, it is an incorrect answer choice.
Choice B: This answer choice provides for differential changes in the cities’ respective population growth rates, but this would have no effect on the violent crime rate, as violent crime rates are calculated per 1000 citizens, and the population growth rate only measures changes in the absolute number of citizens; as it does not undermine the conclusion that Meadowbrook’s greater percentage violent crime rate increase means its citizens are more likely to face said crimes, it is an incorrect answer choice.
Choice C: This answer choice only provides for the relative difference between violent and non-violent crime occurrences in the given cities, thereby only allowing us insight into the likelihood of citizens to face violent crime as opposed to non-violent crime within either city; it has no bearing on the comparative likelihood of citizens of Meadowbrook and Parkdale to face violent crime; as it thereby fails to undermine the conclusion that Meadowbrook’s greater percentage violent crime rate increase means its citizens are more likely to face said crimes, it is an incorrect answer choice.
Choice D: This answer choice would allow one to look at older absolute values for violent crimes and contextualize the current percentage increases in absolute numerical terms as well; for example, if the respective violent crime rates in Meadowbrook and Parkdale four years ago stood at 200 and 2000 respectively, current violent crime rates at the respective percentage increases of 60% and 10% would be 320 and 2200, contradicting the argument in the passage; thereby, it undermines the conclusion that Meadowbrook’s greater percentage violent crime rate increase means its citizens are more likely to face said crimes and is the correct answer choice.
Choice E: This answer choice is irrelevant as it only provides for changes in crime prevention expenditure, and does not signify to what extent this expenditure has affected the violent crime rate in each city; it has no bearing on the current absolute violent crime rates in the cities and consequently, does not address the conclusion that Meadowbrook’s greater percentage violent crime rate increase means its citizens are more likely to face said crimes, making it an incorrect answer choice.
Hence, D is the best answer choice.To understand the concept of “Characteristics of an Evaluation Statement on GMAT Critical Reasoning,” you may want to watch the following video (~3 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team
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