GMAT Club World Cup 2022 (DAY 1): Commentator: Advocates of direct

Question

Commentator: Advocates of direct cash assistance payments to individuals have long asserted that such payments, from either local or federal funds, are an effective way to build wealth among working people who struggle to accumulate capital while meeting basic expenses. Clearly, however, this assertion has proven false. In a recent two-year pilot program, most recipients of direct cash assistance reported that they spent all of the additional funds on immediate expenses. Even among those who did save, few set aside more than 10% of the funds in savings or retirement accounts.

The commentator’s argument is flawed in that it

(A) Presupposes that a program of assistance to working people would be successful only if it helped build wealth

(B) Fails to distinguish between essential and discretionary spending

(C) Takes for granted that in a longer-term program of cash assistance, most recipients would first settle short-term expenses and then shift to saving a significant portion of the assistance money

(D) Fails to distinguish between a measure that directly contributes to a desired outcome and a measure that facilitates the accomplishment of that outcome

(E) Takes for granted that a pattern of behavior following upon a particular intervention would not have occurred in the absence of that intervention

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Manhattan Prep Official Explanation:

Step 1: Identify the Question

The word flawed in the question stem indicates that this is a Find the Flaw question.

Step 2: Deconstruct the Argument

In this argument, the conclusion is hidden in the middle. First, the commentator describes someone else’s opinion—a counterpoint. Advocates have said that giving people cash will build wealth. The commentator concludes that this view is wrong, then provides a supporting premise: People who received cash assistance put only a small percentage into savings or retirement accounts.

Step 3: Pause and State the Goal 
 
Since this is a Find the Flaw question, the answer will relate to an assumption the argument relies upon. Here are two big ones the commentator seems to be making:

1) The results of the two-year study are representative of what would happen in other situations. 
2) If people didn’t put much money into a savings/retirement account, the cash assistance didn’t help them build wealth.

Any argument relying on a study or sample is relying on the idea that this result is not an outlier, but that can be a little too simple and direct to make a tricky GMAT answer. However, the results could be unrepresentative in more subtle ways. For instance, maybe two years is not long enough to see the effect that advocates of cash assistance have predicted. The commentator is assuming that if any wealth-building was going to happen, it would happen within the first two years.

Next, there other ways to build wealth: paying down credit card debt, building home equity, paying for college.

One more feature to consider: On Find the Flaw questions, some of the answers may describe an assumption the argument relies upon, while others may describe a weakness that the argument fails to address. The answers may also directly describe the commentator’s error in logic.

In this case, choices (A), (C), and (E) are all trying to describe assumptions. The terms  presupposes  and  takes for granted  are synonyms for  assumes . On the other hand, (B) and (D) directly describe logical errors. (None of the answers in this set are weakeners. That language would be something along the lines of  fails to consider  or  neglects the possibility that .)

Step 4: Work From Wrong to Right

(A) This is not a necessary assumption. The conclusion addresses only one claim made by the advocates: whether this assistance will create wealth. The argument doesn’t address what other criteria might be used to judge the success of the program.

(B) The argument mentions only  basic expenses  and  immediate expenses . It does not address whether those expenses are essential or discretionary.

(C) Watch out for the trap! This would be a great answer if it began with  fails to consider  or  overlooks the possibility , thereby indicating a weaken answer. If individuals were likely to shift to saving the assistance funds in a longer-term program, that would weaken the argument. However, the language  takes for granted  means  assumes . The commentator isn’t assuming this at all. If anyone is making this assumption, it’s the advocates described in the first sentence!

(D) CORRECT.  If the argument  fails to distinguish between  two things, it treats them as the same. The commentator assumes that since the assistance didn’t  contribute directly  to wealth (more money in savings now), it also didn’t indirectly contribute to building wealth in some other way. But if, for example, someone paid down credit card debt, they would reduce their future interest payments—one way to build future wealth. Alternatively, if they invested in education, they might be able to get a higher-paying job, another way to build future wealth.

(E) When the language is abstract, fill it in with the applicable terms from the argument. The  intervention  is cash assistance and the  behavior  that follows is spending on immediate expenses (rather than saving). So this is saying that the commentator has assumed that recipients would not have spent so much if they hadn’t received the assistance. This isn’t a necessary assumption. Because the commentator’s conclusion is about the accumulation of wealth, the argument is not affected by whether people would have spent less without cash assistance. It doesn’t matter  why  they spent the money; it only matters whether that spending contributed to wealth creation.

Abhishek009 · Answer

Blue Part : Objective is   accumulation of wealth   +   meeting basic expenses   to individuals  ( Advocates of Direct Cash payment view) 
Red Part :  Spending most part on expenses   ,   setting aside funds for meeting retirement.    (Authors View)

The author's reasoning is flawed as it serves both the objectives -

accumulation of wealth( setting aside funds for meeting retirement.)   - a measure that facilitates the accomplishment of that outcome 
  meeting basic expenses (Spending most part on expenses)  - directly contributes 
 
Hence, Answer must be (D)

rxb266 · Answer

Let's untangle the stimulus:

Statement 1:    Commentator: Advocates of direct cash assistance payments to individuals have long asserted that such payments, from either local or federal funds, are an effective way to build wealth among working people who struggle to accumulate capital while meeting basic expenses.

Conclusion:    Clearly, however, this assertion has proven false.

Support for conclusion:     In a recent two-year pilot program, most recipients of direct cash assistance reported that they spent all of the additional funds on immediate expenses. Even among those who did save, few set aside more than 10% of the funds in savings or retirement accounts.

Let's attack each answer choice:

Option A :   (A) Presupposes that a program of assistance to working people would be successful only if it helped build wealth 
That is what is in the original statement of the commentator and can not be challenged. It is the reasoning that is flawed !!  INCORRECT

Option B :   Fails to distinguish between essential and discretionary spending.  Clearly  INCORRECT . The argument is not about the difference in types of spending.

Option C :   Takes for granted that in a longer-term program of cash assistance, most recipients would first settle short-term expenses and then shift to saving a significant portion of the assistance money.  This is completely opposite to what the author is trying to establish and does not highlight the weakness in the reasoning.  INCORRECT

Option D :   Fails to distinguish between a measure that directly contributes to a desired outcome and a measure that facilitates the accomplishment of that outcome.  Seems logical as the author overlooks this. Even there is not immediate desired outcome but the possibility exist that the measure   could facilitates the accomplishment of the outcome    Hold!

Option E:   Takes for granted that a pattern of behavior following upon a particular intervention would not have occurred in the absence of that intervention.  This is completely tangential to the argument.  INCORRECT

IMO  Option D

sanjitscorps18 · Answer

(A) Presupposes that a program of assistance to working people would be successful only if it helped build wealth
That's the argument of the supporters hence not correct

(B) Fails to distinguish between essential and discretionary spending
The commentator correctly identifies this

(C) Takes for granted that in a longer-term program of cash assistance, most recipients would first settle short-term expenses and then shift to saving a significant portion of the assistance money
The commentator evaluates available data and hence it is a valid comment

(D) Fails to distinguish between a measure that directly contributes to a desired outcome and a measure that facilitates the accomplishment of that outcome
This is correct. The commentator feels that this measure would now bring desired outcomes while it can only facilitate the outcome

(E) Takes for granted that a pattern of behavior following upon a particular intervention would not have occurred in the absence of that intervention
The pattern of behavior does not change much and that's what the commentator also suggests

IMHO Option D

VelvetThunder · Answer

Answer is D

Conclusion: Payments, from either local or federal funds, are  NOT  an effective way to build wealth among working people who struggle to accumulate capital while meeting basic expenses

Evidence: Most direct cash assistance recipients reported spending all of the additional funds on immediate expenses. Even among those who did save, few set aside more than 10% of the funds in savings or retirement accounts.

Assumption: The commentator believes that  building wealth  and  spending on immediate expenses.   are different things

(A) Presupposes that a program of assistance to working people would be successful only if it helped build wealth   Argument does not talk about the success of the program

(B) Fails to distinguish between essential and discretionary spending   discretionary spending not mentioned in the argument

(C) Takes for granted that in a longer-term program of cash assistance, most recipients would first settle short-term expenses and then shift to saving a significant portion of the assistance money

(D) Fails to distinguish between a measure that directly contributes to a desired outcome and a measure that facilitates the accomplishment of that outcome  CORRECT

(E) Takes for granted that a pattern of behavior following upon a particular intervention would not have occurred in the absence of that intervention  Out of scope. Intervention is not in the passage

Kinshook · Answer

Commentator: Advocates of direct cash assistance payments to individuals have long asserted that such payments, from either local or federal funds, are an effective way to build wealth among working people who struggle to accumulate capital while meeting basic expenses.

Clearly, however, this assertion has proven false.

In a recent two-year pilot program, most recipients of direct cash assistance reported that they spent all of the additional funds on immediate expenses. Even among those who did save, few set aside more than 10% of the funds in savings or retirement accounts.

The commentator’s argument is flawed in that it

(A) Presupposes that a program of assistance to working people would be successful only if it helped build wealth  
The argument is not concerned with the success of the program of assistance but with building wealth among working people who struggle to accumulate capital while meeting basic expenses. 
Incorrect

(B) Fails to distinguish between essential and discretionary spending 
The argument is concerned with building wealth among working people who struggle to accumulate capital while meeting basic expenses. It is not concerned with essential and discretionary spending.
Incorrect

(C) Takes for granted that in a longer-term program of cash assistance, most recipients would first settle short-term expenses and then shift to saving a significant portion of the assistance money
 
The argument fails to take into consideration that in a longer-term program of cash assistance, most recipients would first settle short-term expenses and then shift to saving a significant portion of the assistance money. Incorrect

(D) Fails to distinguish between a measure that directly contributes to a desired outcome and a measure that facilitates the accomplishment of that outcome 
Since the argument is concerned with building wealth, it fails to distinguish that first essential and discretionary spending will occur, then remaining money will be used for building wealth.
Correct

(E) Takes for granted that a pattern of behavior following upon a particular intervention would not have occurred in the absence of that intervention 
The argument fails to take into consideration that a pattern of behavior (building wealth) following upon a particular intervention (direct cash assistance) would not have occurred in the absence of that intervention Incorrect

IMO D

gmatophobia · Answer

(A) Presupposes that a program of assistance to working people would be successful only if it helped build wealth

The commentator doesn't presupposes this. The passage is in response to Advocates claim that payments, from either local or federal funds, are an effective way to build wealth among working people who struggle to accumulate capital while meeting basic expenses

(B) Fails to distinguish between essential and discretionary spending

No comment has been made on the category of spend

(C) Takes for granted that in a longer-term program of cash assistance, most recipients would first settle short-term expenses and then shift to saving a significant portion of the assistance money

The commentator doesn't take the statement into consideration in his argument .

(D) Fails to distinguish between a measure that directly contributes to a desired outcome and a measure that facilitates the accomplishment of that outcome

This is correct IMO. The Commentator concludes that the assertion has proven false as many people did not ended up saving funds and building wealth. However he does not realize that by spending all of the additional funds on immediate expenses the working people can start saving and building wealth in near future

(E) Takes for granted that a pattern of behavior following upon a particular intervention would not have occurred in the absence of that intervention

The commentator doesn't take the statement into consideration in his argument .

IMO D

Dwiti88 · Answer

D is the correct answer because the commentator's argument is not considering the fact that the direct cash option is helping people to pay 
their immediate expenses .And with the small amount they are saving would help them to accumulate a substantial amount few years down the line.

soudipsengupta · Answer

(A) Presupposes that a program of assistance to working people would be successful only if it helped build wealth.
 INCORRECT. This is not an assumption in the Commentator's argument. He does not consider that a program of assistance to working people would be successful  ONLY  if it helped build wealth.

(B) Fails to distinguish between essential and discretionary spending
 INCORRECT. Failing to distinguish between essential and discretionary spending is not a flaw of Commentator's argument. Irrelevant.

(C) Takes for granted that in a longer-term program of cash assistance, most recipients would first settle short-term expenses and then shift to saving a significant portion of the assistance money
 INCORRECT. This is not true; the argument does not tell us that the commentator considers the above for granted

(D) Fails to distinguish between a measure that directly contributes to a desired outcome and a measure that facilitates the accomplishment of that outcome
 CORRECT. The Commentator's argument is clearly flawed because he or she thinks that even though most recipients of direct cash assistance reported that they spent all of the additional funds on immediate expenses and even among those who did save, few set aside more than 10% of the funds in savings or retirement accounts, such actions may very well help them in accumulating capital over time. Clearly, what this statement says.

(E) Takes for granted that a pattern of behavior following upon a particular intervention would not have occurred in the absence of that intervention
 INCORRECT. Nowhere does it discuss about any "intervention"

manish1708 · Answer

Answer: D

Commentator: Advocates of direct cash assistance payments to individuals have long asserted that such payments, from either local or federal funds, are an effective way to build wealth among working people who struggle to accumulate capital while meeting basic expenses. Clearly, however, this assertion has proven false. In a recent two-year pilot program, most recipients of direct cash assistance reported that they spent all of the additional funds on immediate expenses. Even among those who did save, few set aside more than 10% of the funds in savings or retirement accounts.

The commentator’s argument is flawed in that it

(A) Presupposes that a program of assistance to working people would be successful only if it helped build wealth - -> Incorrect. Restates the premise.

(B) Fails to distinguish between essential and discretionary spending  --> Incorrect. Spending of any nature is out of scope.

(C) Takes for granted that in a longer-term program of cash assistance, most recipients would first settle short-term expenses and then shift to saving a significant portion of the assistance money

(D) Fails to distinguish between a measure that directly contributes to a desired outcome and a measure that facilitates the accomplishment of that outcome -->   Correct . Commentator is not able to differentiate between desired outcome and a measure to accomplish. Commentator's argument rests on desired outcome whereas advocates asserting based on a measure to facilitate the accomplishment of the outcome.
 
(E) Takes for granted that a pattern of behavior following upon a particular intervention would not have occurred in the absence of that intervention -->  Incorrect. Intervention is out of scope of the argument.

JonShukhrat · Answer

The commentator cites the report as the evidence that demonstrates how direct cash payments to individuals fall short of building wealth among working people. Commentator claims that provided direct cash was almost entirely spent on immediate expenses and assumes that recipients failed to accumulate wealth. However, as the argument claims, these recipients work and earn their own money. So, what if they saved their own earning and used provided cash to pay their immediate expenses. In such a case, the conclusion of the commentator falls apart.

In other words, that cash could have not contributed directly but anyway facilitated the accumulation of cash.

So D

In other words, that cash could have not contributed directly but anyway facilitated the accumulation of cash.

So D

bb · Answer

Dwiti88 ,

Please make sure to address why other answer choices are incorrect in your future posts to receive Kudos and Bonus points. 
Good luck tomorrow!
BB

bb · Answer

JonShukhrat ,

Please address why the other answer choices are wrong.
Thank you.

VerbalBot · Answer

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GMAT Club World Cup 2022 (DAY 1): Commentator: Advocates of direct

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