It’s time we stopped searching for new statistics to suggest that we

Question

It’s time we stopped searching for new statistics to suggest that we are not spending enough on education. In fact, education spending increased 30 percent overall during the last decade.

Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument above?

(A) Despite increased spending on education, enrollment in our elementary and secondary schools declined about 4 percent during the last ten years.
(B) Our spending on gasoline increased more than 100 percent during the last decade.
(C) When adjusted for inflation, our per-pupil expenditure on education this year is less than it was ten years ago.
(D) Eleven other economically developed nations spend more on education than we do.
(E) The achievement levels of our students have been declining steadily since 1960, and the last decade produced no reversal in this trend.

icandy · Accepted Answer

In fact, education spending increased 30 percent overall during the last decade.

Evidence is that education spending increased over last decade by 30%

It’s time we stopped searching for new statistics to suggest that we are not spending enough on education.

Conclusion is to stop searching for new statistics or other wise saying that based on the stated evidence above, we are spending enough on education.

Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument above?

(A) Despite increased spending on education, enrollment in our elementary and secondary schools declined about 4 percent during the last ten years.

A is about enrollment and not about whether we are spending more or less

(B) Our spending on gasoline increased more than 100 percent during the last decade.

B Ok Gas spending has nothing to do with edu spending.

(C) When adjusted for inflation, our per-pupil expenditure on education this year is less than it was ten years ago.

offers counter evidence that we are not spending enough on education. Probably this is it??

(D) Eleven other economically developed nations spend more on education than we do.

Does it matter?

(E) The achievement levels of our students have been declining steadily since 1960, and the last decade produced no reversal in this trend.

Again irrelevant here.

My pick  C

priyankurml · Answer

Another C.

We already spent 30% more than last decade; therefore we stopped searching for any statistics related to minute spending on education. Any statement, which could reveal that actually we are spending less than what we did in previous years, will definitely intrigue us.
A: Enrollment is not the point of discussion
B: Gasoline I OOS
C:  True , shows the difference
D: But how it affects our discussion?
E: Achievement is not the point of discussion

wishnuv · Answer

I chose C as well, but I thought D was a strong contender as well, considering the fact that our spending could've been very low to start with, a decade ago, so 30% higher is not much compared to other developed nations. But I agree that its a bit out of scope.

chris558 · Answer

Conclusion: We should stop searching for new statistics suggesting we aren't spending enough on education
Premise: education spending increased 30% overall during the last decade

This is a WEAKENING question. New information is allowed in answer choices, must affect conclusion. Not necessarily negate, but make it less likely to be true!

(A) Despite increased spending on education, enrollment in our elementary and secondary schools declined about 4 percent during the last ten years.
-> enrollment does not have anything to do with the stats on education spending...
(B) Our spending on gasoline increased more than 100 percent during the last decade.
-> out of scope. we aren't talking about gasoline here!
(C) When adjusted for inflation, our per-pupil expenditure on education this year is less than it was ten years ago.
-> CORRECT! if the increase in edu. spending is due to inflation, and the real amount we spend on edu. is actually LESS than what it aws 10 yrs ago, then we AREN't spending more on education. Therefore it is reasonable to search for stats suggesting we should INCREASE spending in edu.
(D) Eleven other economically developed nations spend more on education than we do.
--> nothing to do with us or our stats.
(E) The achievement levels of our students have been declining steadily since 1960, and the last decade produced no reversal in this trend.
->acheivement levels is not the same as edu. spending levels.

Gc2kawai · Answer

A) Why can't we relate the enrollment to investment in education as an indirect co-relation?

AquaZinc · Answer

This is a classic  "Weaken the Argument"  question in critical reasoning. The argument claims:
 
The key word here is  "overall"  — this is where the argument is vulnerable.
 Why (C) is the correct answer:  Option (C) states that when adjusted for  inflation , per-pupil expenditure is actually  less  than ten years ago. This directly  destroys  the argument because:
 
 A 30% nominal increase means  nothing  if inflation outpaced it 
 The  real  spending power actually  decreased  
 So the concern about underspending on education is still  completely valid   
 Why the others are weaker: 
 
  (A)  — Declining enrollment is somewhat relevant but doesn't directly weaken the spending claim 
  (B)  — Gasoline spending is  irrelevant  to education spending adequacy 
  (D)  — Other nations spending more is interesting but doesn't address the trend argument directly 
  (E)  — Declining achievement levels suggest a problem but don't directly challenge the spending statistic itself  
 (C) is the most surgical and direct weakener  because it exposes the  statistical flaw  in the argument itself — nominal vs. real dollars.

guddo · Answer

It’s time we stopped searching for new statistics to suggest that we are not spending enough on education. In fact, education spending increased 30 percent overall during the last decade.

Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument above?

The argument says we should stop looking for evidence that education is underfunded because total education spending rose 30 percent over the last decade.  The flaw  is that total spending alone does not show whether we are spending enough.  What matters more is the real amount spent per student , not just the overall dollar increase.

A. Despite increased spending on education, enrollment in our elementary and secondary schools declined about 4 percent during the last ten years.

This actually tends to help the argument, not weaken it. If enrollment fell while total spending rose, then spending per student may have gone up.

B. Our spending on gasoline increased more than 100 percent during the last decade.

This is irrelevant. Gasoline spending does not tell us whether education spending is enough.

C. When adjusted for inflation, our per-pupil expenditure on education this year is less than it was ten years ago.

This weakens the argument most strongly. The argument relies on a 30 percent increase in total spending, but this choice shows that in real terms, and on a per-student basis, spending actually fell. So the increase in total spending does not prove that education is adequately funded.

D. Eleven other economically developed nations spend more on education than we do.

This is too vague. It does not say whether they spend more per student, whether they are richer, or whether their systems are comparable.

E. The achievement levels of our students have been declining steadily since 1960, and the last decade produced no reversal in this trend.

This may suggest poor results, but it does not directly show that spending is insufficient. Achievement can be affected by many things besides funding.

Answer: (C)

guddo · Answer

Because  A does not weaken the claim that spending was not too low .  It actually tends to make the 30 percent increase look more favorable .
Why:

If enrollment fell by 4% while total spending rose, then the same or more money was being spread across fewer students. That pushes spending per student upward, not downward.

So even if enrollment and spending are related, A does not support “we are not spending enough.” It points in the opposite direction.

It’s time we stopped searching for new statistics to suggest that we

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It’s time we stopped searching for new statistics to suggest that we

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

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From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

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