The Republic of Maltica has maintained a healthy, approximate ratio of

Question

The Republic of Maltica has maintained a healthy, approximate ratio of 1:1 between men and women since the 1920s. The country offered voting rights to women in 1946. In 1950, only 20 percent of women voted in the national election. In 1990, 40 percent of women voted in the national election. It is clear that, over these four decades, the proportion of women voting in national elections has increased.

To evaluate the argument above, it would be most useful to compare 1950 and 1990 with regard to which of the following characteristics?

A. The percentage of women who did not vote in national elections.
B. The percentage of men who voted in national elections.
C. The percentage of women who went on to hold a government office after winning an election.
D. The percentage of women who voted in more than one national election. 
E. The percentage of men who voted in local elections.

agrasan · Answer

Proportion of women voting in national elections = (Women voting in national elections)/(all people voting in national elections)

A. The percentage of women who did not vote in national elections.
This option  doesn't matter , we only worry about people voting in national elections. We are not even counting people who didn't vote in national elections.

B. The percentage of men who voted in national elections.
This option is  correct  and would be helpful to know, if there is a change in percentage of men voting in national elections then we can't the conclusion. Think like this percentage of men decreased then the increase in proportion would be due to reason other than mentioned in the conclusion.

Analogy = x/(x+y)
If I said x increased and proportion must have also increased but later I get an info that y also increased then my conclusion is affected.

C. The percentage of women who went on to hold a government office after winning an election.
This  doesn't matter , even if this is true then the conclusion can still hold.

D. The percentage of women who voted in more than one national election.
This  doesn't matter , even if this is true then the conclusion can still hold.

E. The percentage of men who voted in local elections.
This  doesn't matter , the argument is about  national  elections, not local elections.

AakkashVerbal · Answer

Aakkash Explanation -

We need information to evaluate the claim that the author makes - 'Proportion of women voting in national elections has increased'

To know anything about the proportion, we need to have data about the opposing side of the proportion in question.

A - Redundant. We can find this data from the given 20% and 40%. Does not inform us about the opposing side.

B - Correct answer. Provides us with the necessary data to mathematically calculate the proportion. Based on which we can evaluate whether the conclusion is correct or not.

C - Irrelevant. The conclusion is not centred around holding office; rather, we're concerned about voting trends.

D - Trap answer choice. The question setter aims to confuse us by introducing layers of complexity within the known data. Though looking at our mind maps should make it clear that we need external data.

E - Funny answer choice - Local elections are not of concern to the author and therefore not of concern to us.

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Bunuel · Answer

Experts' Global Explanation:   
 
 Mind-map:  In 1950 election, 20 percent women voted à in 1990 election, 40 percent women voted à proportion of women voting in elections has increased (conclusion)
 
 Missing-link:  Between all the information presented and the conclusion that the proportion of women voting in elections has increased 
 
 Expectation from the correct answer choice:  To find the information that helps evaluate the conclusion that the proportion of immigrants in voting has increased
 
 Discussion:  This question tests the   classic GMAT error of getting impressed by numbers  , or assuming that the stated numbers indicate something positive/desirable or negative/undesirable; the argument mentions that in 1950, among all women, 20 percent of women voted and that in 1990, among all women, 40 percent of women voted; the increase from 20 percent to 40 percent generates the impression of more women voting; this increase in women’s voting indicates the   increase in women voters, among all women  , and   not the     increase in women voters, among all voters  . Additionally, the conclusion relates to the proportion of women voters among all voters; to evaluate this conclusion, it is   necessary to know the proportion of men voters among all voters  . Besides, please be extra careful when you see numbers/percentages/proportions in CR questions; often, the key lies in the numbers.
 
A. The argument mentions the percentage of women who voted in the two years, suggesting that the   comparison of the percentage of women who did not vote in the two years is already known  ; so, this answer choice seeks no new information and does not seek the information that helps evaluate the conclusion. Further, this answer choice relates to information about “women” and   fails to address the comparison between women and men  , thus not leading to any suggestion related to the “proportion” of women, among all voters. Because this answer choice does not seek the required information, this answer choice is incorrect.
 
B.  Correct . The argument mentions that, over time, the proportion of women voting in elections,   among all voters  , has increased because a greater percentage of women,   among all women  , are voting; the term “proportion”, as used in the conclusion, indicates the ratio of women voters and all voters; to know the proportion of women voters among all voters, the   proportion of men voters among all voters is necessary  ; if there is a   similar or greater increase in the percentage of men voters  , the “proportion” of women voters, among all voters,   may remain the same or decrease  , despite the increase in the “percentage” of women, among all women, voting; so, information about the percentage of men who voted in national elections, as the answer choice mentions, is essential to evaluate the argument. Because this answer choice seeks the required information, this answer choice is correct.
 
C. The argument is concerned with the women “who voted in national elections” and   not with those “who went on to hold a government office   after winning an election”; so, the response to this answer choice would be   out of scope  . Further, this answer choice relates to information about “women” and   fails to address the comparison between women and men  , thus not leading to any suggestion related to the “proportion” of women, among all voters. Because this answer choice does not seek the required information, this answer choice is incorrect.
 
D. The argument is concerned with the women “who voted in national elections” and   whether they voted in more than one election would be just additional information   and have no bearing on the argument. Further, this answer choice relates to information about “women” and   fails to address the comparison between women and men  , thus not leading to any suggestion related to the “proportion” of women, among all voters. Because this answer choice does not seek the required information, this answer choice is incorrect.
 
E. This answer choice is concerned with “national” elections; so,   “local” elections are out of scope  . Because this answer choice does not seek the required information, this answer choice is incorrect.
 
 B is the best choice.

ahddhah · Answer

I have issue with this question since it says 40% “OF” women voted in election doesnt it mean that we already know how many percentage of women voting in the election has increased.

Obviously if the option said 40% women voted in the election then it would have been. B option since I can see many of the solutions have considered this.

Please correct me if you think I am wrong

vallequalle · Answer

This sentences shows us that we are searching for the  share   of woman   among   all voters  and  not  the  share of woman who vote among   all woman .

The Republic of Maltica has maintained a healthy, approximate ratio of

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