The population of Dorthhampthon is expected to grow at an average rate

Question

The population of Dorthhampthon is expected to grow at an average rate of 6 percent a year in the coming decade. Many of Dorthhampthon’s residents raised concerns regarding the effect of this growth on the recreation areas in the city's center, yet the Dorthhampthon mayor's office claims that such growth will not threaten the existence of any of these.

Which of the following, if true, will most strengthen the claim of the mayor's office?

(A) By attracting more new citizens, Dorthhampthon's municipality will be able to increase its budget for the development of recreation areas.
(B) Dorthhampthon's municipality intends to increase the city's jurisdiction, allocating new areas for parks and recreation in its surroundings.
(C) Dorthhampthon's ratio of park area per resident is about half that of similar cities in the region.
(D) The new housing projects in central Dorthhampthon are planned to replace lower buildings in older complexes.
(E) Annual population increase of 6 percent a year poses a significant challenge to the city's infrastructure.

bb · Accepted Answer

This was a very very tough question with a very subtle detail. It may be even too subtle but it illustrates importance of reading attentively and precisely. 
Thank you,
BB.

Official Explanation by examPAL:

What’s important to understand in the argument is that the mayor claims that the population increase won’t affect the existing recreation areas, not only recreation areas in general.

Therefore, (A) and (B), which might seem relevant since they discuss new recreation areas, are not relevant – since they don’t address the concern that the exiting areas will be harmed.
(C) is completely irrelevant.
 (D) directly addresses the issue: if the new housing replaces existing housing, it won’t affect existing recreation areas. 
(E) is irrelevant and weakens the argument: it describes a negative effect of the population growth.

jbrandl1 · Answer

The population of Dorthhampthon is expected to grow at an average rate of 6 percent a year in the coming decade. Many of Dorthhampthon’s residents raised concerns regarding the effect of this growth on the recreation areas in the city's center, yet the Dorthhampthon mayor's office claims that such growth  will not threaten the existence  of any of these.

We need to find a reason supporting the claim that population growth in the city "will not threaten the existence" of the recreation areas.
We want the current recreation areas to remain recreation areas.

Which of the following, if true, will most strengthen the claim of the mayor's office?

(A) By attracting more new citizens, Dorthhampthon's municipality will be able to increase its budget for the development of recreation areas.
 If the budget is higher, new areas could be built and existing areas could be improved.
While this sounds good, a higher budget doesn't directly protect the space.

(B) Dorthhampthon's municipality intends to increase the city's jurisdiction, allocating new areas for parks and recreation in its surroundings.
 This option discusses the development of new areas, not the protection of existing areas. I think that disqualifies this answer choice.

(C) Dorthhampthon's ratio of park area per resident is about half that of similar cities in the region.
 This does nothing for the argument that population growth will not threaten the existence of the recreation areas.

(D) The new housing projects in central Dorthhampthon are planned to replace lower buildings in older complexes.
  Looks good.  By stating that the growing population will be housed on the current building area (no new area will need to be converted to building area), this answer choice supports the claim that the existence of the recreational areas is not threatened. If the growing population can be housed without additional building area, the current recreational area is probably safe. While this does depend on taking "existence" quite literally, this is the best choice here.

(E) Annual population increase of 6 percent a year poses a significant challenge to the city's infrastructure.
 This does not offer any support for the argument that population growth will not threaten the existence of the recreation areas. In fact, the answer choice probably weakens the city's argument.

Therefore, answer  D  looks like the correct answer choice.

techloverforever · Answer

Prethinking :
the mayor claim's that the expected growth won't threaten the existence of recreation area. 
Hence information of a separate provision made by the city to incorporate such a rise in population can help strengthen the argument.
POE:
A) By attracting more new citizens, Dorthhampthon's municipality will be able to increase its budget for the development of recreation areas.  Irrelevant : as the argument talks about the area and not funds 
(B) Dorthhampthon's municipality intends to increase the city's jurisdiction, allocating new areas for parks and recreation in its surroundings.  Wrong :Claims are made of the existing areas and not the new ones 
(C) Dorthhampthon's ratio of park area per resident is about half that of similar cities in the region. Irrelevant : as no comparison is made with the other cities  
(D) The new housing projects in central Dorthhampthon are planned to replace lower buildings in older complexes.  Perfect as new houses replace the old one having lower buildings--> Correct 
(E) Annual population increase of 6 percent a year poses a significant challenge to the city's infrastructure.  Irrelevant weakens the claim
 
Option D

JonShukhrat · Answer

Stimulus:  Residents are worried that population increase may threaten the recreation areas in the city's center. Mayor’s office claims that it is not.

What we need to strengthen is the claim of mayor’s office.

Claim:  such growth will not threaten the existence of any of these (recreation areas in the city's   center  ).

We need a piece of information that will support this claim.

A.  By attracting more new citizens, Dorthhampthon's municipality will be able to increase its budget for the development of recreation areas.
This answer choice doesn’t clarify what will happen with the recreation areas in the center. We are not sure whether increased budget will be spent on the recreation areas in the center. It can very well be spent on moving this area to the suburbs.

B.  Dorthhampthon's municipality intends to increase the city's jurisdiction, allocating new areas for parks and recreation in its surroundings.

Since this answer choice talks about suburbs, but not the center, it is irrelevant.

C.  Dorthhampthon's ratio of park area per resident is about half that of similar cities in the region.
We don’t know whether this ratio will be maintained or improved or worsened because of population increase.

D.  The new housing projects in central Dorthhampthon are planned to replace lower buildings in older complexes.
If new housing projects don’t require additional land area, but replace old buildings, then there is no threat for the recreation area in the center. Hence D strengthens the claim and explains what the mayor’s office meant.

E.  Annual population increase of 6 percent a year poses a significant challenge to the city's infrastructure. 
The claim is weakened to some extent now.

Hence  D

thelastskybender · Answer

I think the phrase  'effect of this growth on the recreation areas in the city's center'  is a bit ambiguous, as it could refer either to the physical infrastructure of the recreation areas or to the population pressure on them, depending on how you interpret it. The conclusion that growth will not threaten the existence of any of these areas might also be understood in two ways — it could mean the physical survival of the recreation areas, or it could refer to their continued availability as well-maintained, uncrowded spaces. So, if we consider the issue from the perspective of population load (i.e., how crowded it gets), option B might also be a valid answer. Let me know what you think  bb

The population of Dorthhampthon is expected to grow at an average rate

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

The population of Dorthhampthon is expected to grow at an average rate

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards