NGO worker: It is widely believed that the dropout rate among the unde

Question

NGO worker: It is widely believed that the dropout rate among the under-privileged children admitted under the Food for Education program is solely because of the lack of interest in education among these children. However, it is obvious that it is also the dismally low family incomes of these children that often force their parents to put these children to work that leads to a large number of dropouts. In several villages where such dropout rates increased, the rate of employment of children in the recently set up firecracker factories in the villages shot up significantly at the same time.

In the NGO worker’s argument, the portion in boldface plays which of the following roles?

In the NGO worker’s argument, the portion in boldface plays which of the following roles?

A) It is the position that the argument seeks to explain.

B) It is a claim that the argument does not seek to oppose.

C) It states the evidence that has been taken into account while drawing the conclusion.

D) It is an unsupported claim that the argument calls into question

E) It is an explanation justified by the argument.

anothermillenial · Answer

The NGO worker presents a wide opinion that the cause for dropout is SOLELY due to lack of interest. She argues that “it is ALSO” low income that forces children to work. She then presents additional evidence but that addresses that dropout rates increase are in line with employment increase. The bold face acts as a point which the argument opposes. A) It is the position that the argument seeks to explain. The argument doesn’t try to explain the position but add to the idea that there is another reason. B) It is a claim that the argument does not seek to oppose. The argument DOES oppose the claim. C) It states the evidence that has been taken into account while drawing the conclusion. There is no evidence here used to draw her conclusion. D) It is an unsupported claim that the argument calls into question. Yes, she DOES call that “sole” reason into question. This is a better answer than (A) because the popular opinion is unsupported. The argument calls that claim into question by presenting the idea that increase in dropout rates and increase in employment of a nearby factory prove that being forced to work is another reason for dropout rates. Of course, does an increase in rates definitively prove that one is the effect of the other?

E) It is an explanation justified by the argument. It is NOT justified by the argument. It is opposed.

JS1290 · Answer

Could someone please explain why option D is correct? I don't think the argument is really questioning the first bold point because we are given in the argument that "However, it is obvious that it is ALSO the dismally low family incomes of these children that often force their parents to put these children to work that leads to a large number of dropouts". The author doesn't seem to be disagreeing with the first point. Rather the author is saying that there is also an another reason behind the high drop rate. Could someone please explain where my thinking is going wrong?

Thanks!

Thanks!

TarunTilokani · Answer

Hey  JS1290

It is widely believed that the dropout rate among the underprivileged children admitted under the Food for Education program is solely because of the lack of interest in education among these children (this is something the author points out that something is widely believed)

What is that something : the dropout rate among the under-privileged children admitted under the Food for Education program  is solely because of the lack of interest in education among these children  Please focus on the word solely. the belief states that the only reason behind the dropout rate among the underprivileged children admitted under the Food for Education is lack of interest among these children.

The author uses the word  However  (the transition word) pointing out that it is obvious that it is also the dismally low family incomes of these children that often force their parents to put these children to work that leads to a large number of dropouts
He states that LACK OF INTEREST is not the cause it is because low family incomes that force parents to put their children to work (note here that children may have interest in studying but because they are forced by their family to work they tend to drop out)

Now the author goes on to elaborate on his point by giving an example of  how dropout rates are related to employment and not lack of interest  : In several villages where such dropout rates increased, the rate of employment of children in the recently set up firecracker factories in the villages shot up significantly at the same time.

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siddharthasthana · Answer

I strongly disagree with the OA. The author has not called the claim into question. He rather has provided another reason for it.

However, it is obvious that  it is also  the dismally low family incomes of these children that  often  force their parents to put these children to work that leads to a large number of dropouts.

These two instances point out the same.

VerbalBot · Answer

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NGO worker: It is widely believed that the dropout rate among the unde

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