Toughened hiring standards have not been the primary cause of the pres

Thank you so much folks for your responses. Here is the official explanation.

Argument Evaluation

Situation :- The teacher shortage can be explained by poor working conditions and poor salaries rather than by stricter hiring practices.

Reasoning :- Which statement supports this point of view? This argument about the cause of the teacher shortage dismisses one possibility—obstacles created by higher standards in hiring—and endorses another—the failure to improve working conditions and salaries. A response that gives information suggesting that working conditions and salaries are in fact why there is a shortage of teachers would support the claims.

A This statement modestly undermines the claims made—because it suggests that the toughened hiring standards might in fact be the primary cause of the shortage—rather than supports them.

B This statement modestly undermines the claims, because it is odd that more teachers with a higher educational level are entering the profession if working conditions for teachers have not improved and salaries for teachers have not kept up with those of other professions.

C This statement modestly undermines the first claim made in the passage.

D Correct. This statement properly identifies evidence that pay and working conditions have caused teachers to leave the profession and thus supports the claim that these factors are causes of the teacher shortage.

E This statement undermines the first claim made in the passage.

The correct answer is D.

A) Many teachers already in the profession would not have been hired under the new hiring standards.
Doesnot support the claim about salaries and working conditions
(B) Today more teachers are entering the profession with a higher educational level than in the past.
Doesnot support the claim about salaries and working conditions
(C) Some teachers have cited higher standards for hiring as a reason for the current staffing shortage.
Weakens
(D) Many teachers have cited low pay and lack of professional freedom as reasons for their leaving the profession.
Supports the claim about low salaries and working conditions
(E) Many prospective teachers have cited the new hiring standards as a reason for not entering the profession.
Weakens

The argument says that
1.) Toughened hiring standards is not the primary cause of staffing shortage.
2.) Staffing shortage is because no improvement in working conditions and teachers are paid lower compared to other professions.

We have to support the claim so we should be looking for an answer choice that tells us that toughened hiring standards is not the primary cause.
OR the answer choice that tells us that no improvement and teachers pay is the primary cause of staffing shortage.

(A) Many teachers already in the profession would not have been hired under the new hiring standards.--- Incorrect because this is telling us that the hiring standards have been toughened. Not what we need.
(B) Today more teachers are entering the profession with a higher educational level than in the past. ---- Incorrect because teachers are entering with a higher educational level. That means they are not hiring at previous educational levels of the teachers. Again hiring standards have been toughened.
(C) Some teachers have cited higher standards for hiring as a reason for the current staffing shortage.---- Incorrect because again hiring standards have been toughened. Not what we need.
(D) Many teachers have cited low pay and lack of professional freedom as reasons for their leaving the profession.---- CORRECT because teachers lquit the job because of low pay and profession freedom (working conditions). No mention about toughened hiring standards. Exactly what we need.
(E) Many prospective teachers have cited the new hiring standards as a reason for not entering the profession.---- Incorrect because new hiring standards are perhaps tougher so the teachers chose not to enter the profession. They feel they would not meet the standards. Again not what we need.

Toughened hiring standards have not been the primary cause of the present staffing shortage in public schools. The shortage of teachers is primarily caused by the fact that in recent years teachers have not experienced any improvements in working conditions and their salaries have not kept pace with salaries in other professions.

Which of the following, if true, would most support the claims above?

(A) Many teachers already in the profession would not have been hired under the new hiring standards.(This is a neutral answer dosent support either)

(B) Today more teachers are entering the profession with a higher educational level than in the past.(This is out of context- We dont know Tough hiring standard can be because of some other factor too may be because of the communication skills and not just education)

(C) Some teachers have cited higher standards for hiring as a reason for the current staffing shortage.(Weakening)

(D) Many teachers have cited low pay and lack of professional freedom as reasons for their leaving the profession.(This the exact reason why there is a shortage of staff).

(E) Many prospective teachers have cited the new hiring standards as a reason for not entering the profession.(Weakening the argument)

Toughened hiring standards have not been the primary cause of the present staffing shortage in public schools. The shortage of teachers is primarily caused by the fact that in recent years teachers have not experienced any improvements in working conditions and their salaries have not kept pace with salaries in other professions.

Which of the following, if true, would most support the claims above?

(A) Many teachers already in the profession would not have been hired under the new hiring standards.
(B) Today more teachers are entering the profession with a higher educational level than in the past.
(C) Some teachers have cited higher standards for hiring as a reason for the current staffing shortage.
(D) Many teachers have cited low pay and lack of professional freedom as reasons for their leaving the profession.
If this were true then it will strengthen the argument that low pay and lack of professionalism is the reason for leaving.
(E) Many prospective teachers have cited the new hiring standards as a reason for not entering the profession.
This one weakens the argument instead of strengthening.

A B and C are just irrelevant.

Conclusion: Toughened hiring standards have not been the primary cause of the present staffing shortage in public schools.

Premise: The shortage of teachers is primarily caused by the fact that in recent years teachers have not experienced any improvements in working conditions and their salaries have not kept pace with salaries in other professions.

Not tough hiring standards but working conditions and salary are the two causes for shortage of staff.
(A) Many teachers already in the profession would not have been hired under the new hiring standards.
But there would be SOME teachers who would get hired under the new hiring standards.
INCORRECT.

(B) Today more teachers are entering the profession with a higher educational level than in the past.
Irrelevant. No mention.

(C) Some teachers have cited higher standards for hiring as a reason for the current staffing shortage.
If SOME teachers have cited this then this choice would indeed weaken the conclusion.

(D) Many teachers have cited low pay and lack of professional freedom as reasons for their leaving the profession.
This is the correct choice as it affirms that the two causes mentioned in the argument are the ONLY reason for the shortage of staff.

(E) Many prospective teachers have cited the new hiring standards as a reason for not entering the profession.
This choice also weakens the conclusion.

Toughened hiring standards have not been the primary cause of the present staffing shortage in public schools. The shortage of teachers is primarily caused by the fact that in recent years teachers have not experienced any improvements in working conditions and their salaries have not kept pace with salaries in other professions.

Which of the following, if true, would most support the claims above?

(A) Many teachers already in the profession would not have been hired under the new hiring standards.
Firstly, This option statement is talking about the teachers who are already in the profession, but we are not concerned with those teachers. The argument is talking about the reason for the present staffing shortage in public schools. Thus, this option is irrelevant.
Secondly, so what? if the teachers already in the profession would not have been hired under the new hiring standards. They are already hired and we are not concerned about them. Also, this option is talking about the toughened hiring standards (by mentioning new hiring standards), which are clearly mentioned in the passage that have not been the primary cause of the present staffing shortage in public schools. So, IRRELEVANT.

(B) Today more teachers are entering the profession with a higher educational level than in the past.
It suggests that it is due to the toughened hiring standards, which is again irrelevant. As it is clearly mentioned in the argument that Toughened hiring standards have not been the primary cause of the present staffing shortage in public schools. So, INCORRECT.

(C) Some teachers have cited higher standards for hiring as a reason for the current staffing shortage.
Weakens.
Also, SOME is equivalent to ATLEAST ONE, if one teacher has cited higher standards for hiring as a reason for the current staffing shortage. It does not really matter.

(D) Many teachers have cited low pay and lack of professional freedom as reasons for their leaving the profession.
This goes in line with the conclusion of the argument. Therefore, CORRECT.
'lack of professional freedom' is equivalent to any/no improvements in working conditions
'low pay' is equivalent to their salaries have not kept pace with salaries in other professions.

(E) Many prospective teachers have cited the new hiring standards as a reason for not entering the profession.
Weakens.

My reasoning for B, please let me know why it is wrong.

If more teachers are entering the profession with higher educational levels than in the past, that means it is in fact NOT the toughened hiring process that is causing the drop in number of teachers. From this we can properly assume that the shortage is caused by other factors other than higher standards.

I understand how D is more direct and correct, but would my thought process above also make B correct?­

This statement indicates some issue with current situation of current teachers, not new teachers with new stadnards/qualification. That's why we can reject B­

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