In Country Y, the median age of the population

Question

In Country Y, the median age of the population has been increasing rapidly because modern medicine is now available to the majority of the population. To prepare for a projected increase of 30% in its senior population, the country is instituting a nationwide program to build nursing homes to house the elderly in upcoming years.

Which of the following statement, if true, would most strongly suggest that Country Y's plan with regards to Country Y's elderly citizens is flawed?

A. There has also been a surge in college-age citizens in Country Y, but there is no effort to build more colleges.

B. The medical advances in Country Y are keeping most of the elderly more healthy and fit than they were in prior periods, enabling them to live independently or with family for the duration of their lives.

C. The nursing and medical schools in Country Y are not graduating more nurses and doctors.

D. Most of the elderly in Country Y are covered by national health insurance.

E. The costs of medication in Country Y are much lower than in neighboring countries.

MagooshExpert · Accepted Answer

Hi bluetrain ! Carolyn from Magoosh here - I'll step in for Mike

First, let's summarize the argument. The argument here is: Because of modern medicine, people are living longer, and therefore we should build more nursing homes. To find a flaw with the argument, we need to find a flaw with one of these parts. Option B points out a flaw with the last part: "and therefore we should build more nursing homes". Option B states that because of these medical advantages, people are staying healthier into old age. So, they won't all need to live in nursing homes. Therefore, we should NOT build more nursing homes, because the elderly population will not need them. This directly contradicts the argument. Choice C says: The nursing and medical schools in Country Y are not graduating more nurses and doctors. Now, looking back at the elements of the argument, this doesn't really have anything to do with any of them. It's true that this indicates that there might be a problem with the plan eventually, since there may not be enough nurses and doctors to staff the nursing homes, but it's not directly related to the argument (people living longer = more need for nursing homes). The argument itself stays valid under this case, there's just an additional problem that needs to be considered. But choice B does question the actual argument (people living longer does NOT = more need for nursing homes). So choice B fits better, based on what we're asked here. Does that make sense? Hope that helps!

-Carolyn

Helium · Answer

This is a Weaken question. It asks for some new piece of evidence that, if true, would make the plan in the stimulus seem like a bad idea.

The plan is to build nursing homes to house the elderly in upcoming years (not the elderly of today). The impetus for this plan is the projected increase of 30% in the country's senior population.

The planners are assuming that the seniors in the future will actually need to live in nursing homes. The correct choice will attack the planners' assumption. It will suggest some reason why the seniors in the future will not need more nursing homes.

(B) matches the prediction and is correct. If the elderly of the future will be healthier and more fit than imagined by the planners, and will be able to live independently or with family, then the nursing homes won't be needed, and the plan is flawed.

(A) is irrelevant. Even if Country Y is not building more colleges, that doesn't mean building more nursing homes is a bad idea. It just might mean the country is passing on another potentially good idea.

(C) is irrelevant. One might think this suggests that Country Y will have trouble staffing the new nursing homes. However, this only suggests that there won't be more locally educated candidates. There may still be plenty of students to staff the new homes, or Country Y could just hire nurses and doctors from other countries.

(D) relates to how the elderly may pay for their medical needs, but has nothing to do with the plan to build more nursing homes.

(E) presents an irrelevant comparison. The plan is only about Country Y, and the costs of medication don't even relate to building nursing homes.

aditya8062 · Answer

B seems best :  The medical advances in Country Y are keeping most of the elderly more healthy and fit than they were in prior periods, enabling them to live independently or with family for the duration of their lives.

grichagupta · Answer

Even I went with B and my reason for selecting this option was that the elderly are as it is more healthy than in previous years resulting in their long life and hence building more nursing homes for them will not help in increasing their age.

bluetrain · Answer

I can`t understand why B is the answer.

Apparently, we should choose a option which demonstrates that the plan is flawed.

But B just offers one of alternatives (even though we don`t know such one is better)

And that option doesn`t demonstrate any flaw within the plan.

(and the logic in it is really problematic. The logic depends on the evidence which derive from the past statement
 which does not relevant with the success of the plan)

But C (though it is not crystal clear) demonstrates a flaw in it.

Mike sir, please help.

mikemcgarry

VerbalBot · Answer

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In Country Y, the median age of the population

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In Country Y, the median age of the population

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