V02-02

Question

The revitalization of our lethargic city center cannot be achieved solely by expanding residential space through high-priced condominiums; it also requires incentives for investment in small businesses. While the revenue from condominium sales may be beneficial, our approach to economic growth should not be one-sided. Additionally, residents of these so-called "luxury living spaces" cannot be expected to thrive without access to service industries like restaurants, laundries, and childcare facilities within a reasonable distance. The city council must proactively attract such businesses to the city center, or the revitalization project is bound to fail.
 
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument that incentives for small businesses are essential to the city's revitalization project?

A. A case study from similar cities shows that small businesses have made significant contributions to urban renewal.
B. A petition from a citizens' group advocating for small business incentives in the city center.
C. A report showing a 100% sale rate for the most expensive condominiums in city center neighborhoods.
D. An article claiming that abundant, comfortable housing for young professionals is crucial for urban renewal.
E. A professor at a local university contends that supporting small business in the city center will divert resources needed for other renewal efforts.

Bunuel · Answer

Official Solution:

The revitalization of our lethargic city center cannot be achieved solely by expanding residential space through high-priced condominiums; it also requires incentives for investment in small businesses. While the revenue from condominium sales may be beneficial, our approach to economic growth should not be one-sided. Additionally, residents of these so-called "luxury living spaces" cannot be expected to thrive without access to service industries like restaurants, laundries, and childcare facilities within a reasonable distance. The city council must proactively attract such businesses to the city center, or the revitalization project is bound to fail.
 
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument that incentives for small businesses are essential to the city's revitalization project?

A. A case study from similar cities shows that small businesses have made significant contributions to urban renewal.
B. A petition from a citizens' group advocating for small business incentives in the city center.
C. A report showing a 100% sale rate for the most expensive condominiums in city center neighborhoods.
D. An article claiming that abundant, comfortable housing for young professionals is crucial for urban renewal.
E. A professor at a local university contends that supporting small business in the city center will divert resources needed for other renewal efforts.

Situation: Someone interested in renewing the city center argues the city council should encourage small business in the area.
 
 Reasoning:   Which is the strongest point in support of encouraging small business?  The passage argues that, not only is small business essential to the renewal of the city center, but also that the condominium projects currently underway will not succeed without service industry small business. For the argument to be strengthened, evidence is needed that small business does in fact contribute to urban renewal.
 
 A. CORRECT.  A case study on similar cities where small business has been shown to aid in urban renewal will strengthen the argument that a similar goal should be set in this city. 
 
This is a Strengthen type question. It is true that examples of "similar cities” that had “positive contributions of small businesses to urban renewal" does not ensure that the same will be repeated in this project as well, but it gives more support in favor of small businesses. The plan may still fail because of some element that is not similar to the previous project, but that element does not play any role in disqualifying an element that is similar from being a strengthening point.
 
While evaluating an argument on the basis of a previous event, similar elements would strengthen and dissimilar elements would weaken the argument - analogy is a solid reason for an option to be considered correct in a Strengthen type question, although it is not enough for a Inference type or Assumption type questions, which require a “must be true” condition.
 
B. This may demonstrate that small business is important to local residents, but it does not demonstrate that small business will aid urban renewal.
 
C. This item confirms the popularity of condominium developments, but does not directly address the question of small business.
 
D. The author argues explicitly that housing can not be the only concern of an urban renewal project.
 
E. This is actually an argument  against  encouraging small business.

Answer: A

Bunuel · Answer

The question or/and solution has been revised and edited. Thank you  sayantanc2k  !!!

steffe440 · Answer

I’m not a big fan of this question because the conclusion makes a scope leap. The argument’s conclusion is “the city must proactively attract (i.e., use incentives) or the project will fail.”
The credited answer (A) only shows that small businesses contribute to renewal, which supports “we need small businesses,” not “we need incentives to get them.” It leaves open the possibility that market forces would bring them without subsidies.

The revitalization project is not bound to fail even though we do not proactively attract such business → It is not needed.

Assumption: proactively attract such business is necessary condition for it not to fail.

bb · Answer

Looks like we have a twin/duplicate question, so I will deactivate this one. Thank you steffe440 for pointing this one out. https://gmatclub.com/forum/v21-259891.html

V02-02

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