V32-01

Question

Violent forms of robbery tend to be most severe in nations with median wages not in the bottom 10% of nations, but rather between the 10% and 20% intervals. Although that shifted bulge might seem to run counter to what many might presume would be the case, there is a reasonable explanation for the bulge effect. As an economy begins develop, an initial wave of envy tends to trigger robberies, including violent robberies. As the economy develops further, a greater percentage of that society exits poverty, which in turn reduces envy, and thereby the number of robberies. Therefore, we can expect Baltria to soon see its violent robbery rate decrease given that its economy has begun to develop over the last several years.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A. Once an economy begins to develop, there tends to be a tightening of law enforcement, and punishment for violent crime offenses.
B. Once an economy develops, a spill-off effect can help bolster the economies of neighboring countries, further reinforcing economic development.
C. Baltria's economic development will not stall in the near-future.
D. Baltrian leaders are committed to making Baltria one of the most economically advanced nations in the region.
E. No other country in the region has a violent robbery rate as high as that of Baltria's.

souvik101990 · Answer

Official Solution:

Violent forms of robbery tend to be most severe in nations with median wages not in the bottom 10% of nations, but rather between the 10% and 20% intervals. Although that shifted bulge might seem to run counter to what many might presume would be the case, there is a reasonable explanation for the bulge effect. As an economy begins develop, an initial wave of envy tends to trigger robberies, including violent robberies. As the economy develops further, a greater percentage of that society exits poverty, which in turn reduces envy, and thereby the number of robberies. Therefore, we can expect Baltria to soon see its violent robbery rate decrease given that its economy has begun to develop over the last several years.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A. Once an economy begins to develop, there tends to be a tightening of law enforcement, and punishment for violent crime offenses.
B. Once an economy develops, a spill-off effect can help bolster the economies of neighboring countries, further reinforcing economic development.
C. Baltria's economic development will not stall in the near-future.
D. Baltrian leaders are committed to making Baltria one of the most economically advanced nations in the region.
E. No other country in the region has a violent robbery rate as high as that of Baltria's.

Question Type: Assumption

Boil It Down (Simplified & Abbreviated Summary of the Prompt): Economy develops, Violent robberies subside -> Baltria violent robberies will subside

Missing Information (assumption): The argument magically makes the leap from the theory that violent robberies tend to drop after economies advance beyond the 20th percent interval, to Baltria will see its violent robberies drop. What's missing is proof that Baltria is poised to see it graduate beyond the 20th percent interval.

Goal: Find the option that contains that missing information.

Let's see which option best achieves the goal:

Note: The Opposite Test - Since by definition an assumption is a piece of missing information required for the argument to work, if we take the opposite of a valid assumption the argument will collapse. Therefore, we can use the Opposite Test with the options. Just take the logical opposite of the option and ask: does the argument collapse? If not, the option is wrong. If yes, it's the correct option.

Ⓐ Not required. This option is problematic for two reasons:

1) From the prompt, is Baltria's economy BEGINNING to develop? The prompt makes it clear that that Baltria's economy is further along in its development than just BEGINNING to develop. Therefore, this option is irrelevant because it refers to what happens when economies BEGIN to develop. The reason we can be clear that Baltria's economy is further along than that is because the author believes Baltria is poised to break into the 20th percent+ range. Therefore, this option is Out of Focus as a possible assumption for that reason alone since the argument wouldn't take for granted something that wouldn't even apply to Baltria.

2) The argument doesn't require the information that law enforcement plays a role in the reduction of violent robberies. Maybe it does. Maybe it doesn't. The argument just doesn't rest on law enforcement's role. In fact, the argument suggests that the drop in violent robberies subsides organically as envy falls. Therefore, this option raises even another aspect that's tangential to the argument, and certainly not assumed.

Ⓑ Not required. This option raises something that very well may be true, but the argument certainly does not rest on this spillover effect. If the spill-off effect were to happen, that might help boost development, but that spillover effect is definitely not something required for this argument to hold. Let's confirm with the Opposite Test: Once an economy develops, a spill-off effect does NOT happen. The argument still stands since an economy could develop even without the spill-off effect.

Ⓒ Yes! Required! The argument NEEDS the Baltrian economy to continue to grow for the logic to work. The argument banks everything on that continued development. Look how the Opposite Test CRUSHES the argument: Baltria's economic development WILL stall in the near-future. The argument is destroyed! Since the argument collapses if we take the opposite of C, that proves that C is required for the argument to hold.

Ⓓ Not required. The Opposite Test: The Baltrian economy could still continue to develop even if its leaders weren't committed to Baltria's economic advancement. Boot this option.

Ⓔ Not required. The argument doesn't depend on Baltria having the worst violent robbery rate. The Opposite Test: Some countries in the region have a violent robbery higher than Baltria's. The argument still stands. Some nations could have a worse violent robber rate than Baltria, but Baltria could still have a pretty high violent robbery rate.

I did want to point out that although this option is Out of Focus, it's not because it specifically references other nations. The option is Out of Focus because the argument doesn't require Baltria to have the WORST violent robbery rate.

Theoretically an option could reference other nations and be within the "scope" of what's assumed. For example, "Baltria's violent robbery rate is likely to respond to economic development similar to that of the other nations referenced in the "reasonable explanation"." That's in focus because the argument does depend on Baltria having a similar reaction to the other nations referenced in the "reasonable explanation" this argument is based on.

Sometimes GMAC tries to make a right option seem Out of Focus on a more advanced question.

Only option C is required to be true for the logic in the argument to hold. Without C, the argument collapses, and thus it is assumed.

Answer: C

apoorva0401 · Answer

Can you tell me why isn't option A correct? 
If we use the opposite test, it would be: Once an economy begins to develop, there is no tightening of law enforcement, and punishment for violent crime offenses and thus our argument that is Baltria to soon see a decrease in its robbery rate gets collapsed.

adityaa098 · Answer

Hi Apoorva. Let me try to help you here. The question nowhere says that stringent law enforcements will result in reduction of the number of robberies in the neighborhood. It is the development of the society that will reduce the robberies. Hence, A can be eliminated.

V32-01

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