enigma123 wrote:
Official Guide for GMAT Verbal Review, 2nd EditionPractice Question
Question No.: 81
Page: 150
Difficulty: Political Advertisement: Mayor Delmont’s critics complain about the jobs that were lost in the city under Delmont’s leadership. Yet the fact is that not only were more jobs created than were eliminated, but each year since Delmont took office the average pay for the new jobs created has been higher than that year’s average pay for jobs citywide. So it stands to reason that throughout Delmont’s tenure the average paycheck in this city has been getting steadily bigger.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument in the advertisement?
A. The unemployment rate in the city is higher today than it was when Mayor Delmont took office.
B. The average pay for jobs in the city was at a ten-year low when Mayor Delmont took office.
C. Each year during Mayor Delmont’s tenure, the average pay for jobs that were eliminated has been higher than the average pay for jobs citywide.
D. Most of the jobs eliminated during Mayor Delmont’s tenure were in declining industries.
E. The average pay for jobs in the city is currently lower than it is for jobs in the suburbs surrounding the city.
LINK : Similar question with Strengthening the conclusion.
More jobs were created than were eliminated.
Each year since Delmont took office the average pay for the new jobs created has been higher than that year’s average pay for jobs citywide.
Conclusion: throughout Delmont’s tenure the average paycheck in this city has been getting steadily bigger.
Say Delmont took office in 2018.
Jobs created in 2018 > Jobs lost in 2018
Avg pay for new jobs in 2018 > Avg pay for jobs in 2018
But does this mean that avg pay in 2018 was greater than avg pay in 2017? No. What if avg pay in 2017 was higher because a recession hit in 2018 or because the jobs lost in 2018 were the very high paying jobs etc? What if the same trend continued in 2019, 2020 etc. Every year the avg pay reduced because recession got worse or because the highest paying jobs kept getting lost. Then the conclusion will not hold.
A. The unemployment rate in the city is higher today than it was when Mayor Delmont took office.
Rate of unemployment depends on how many people are entering the work force every year too. We know total number of jobs has increased. If unemployment has also increased, it just means even more people are joining the work force. It tells us nothing about avg pay.
B. The average pay for jobs in the city was at a ten-year low when Mayor Delmont took office.
It doesn't matter even if the avg pay check was lowest. As long as it is rising, we can conclude our conclusion.
C. Each year during Mayor Delmont’s tenure, the average pay for jobs that were eliminated has been higher than the average pay for jobs citywide.
Correct. This means that the highest paying jobs were getting eliminated. In that case, overall avg pay will be getting lower every year, not higher. Then our conclusion would not hold true.
warrior1991Note that the pay of new jobs is a part of avg pay that year. So avg pay in 2018 already includes the pay of new jobs added but does not include the pay of jobs eliminated.
Whatever may be the avg pay of new jobs added, it combines with continuing jobs and gives us the total avg pay. If the avg of eliminated jobs is higher than that, the avg pay will see an overall reduction.
D. Most of the jobs eliminated during Mayor Delmont’s tenure were in declining industries.
The industries from which jobs were lost are irrelevant.
E. The average pay for jobs in the city is currently lower than it is for jobs in the suburbs surrounding the city.
Comparison of city with suburbs is irrelevant.
Answer (C)
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11 Jan 2021, 22:29
