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12 Sep 2019, 02:34
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C
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Difficulty:
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Question Stats:
72% (01:30) correct
28%
(01:56)
wrong
based on 2113
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We have heard a good deal in recent years about the declining importance of the two major political parties. It is the mass media, we are told, that decide the outcome of elections, not the power of the parties. But it is worth noting that no independent or third-party candidate has won any important election in recent years, and in the last nationwide campaign, the two major parties raised and spent more money than ever before in support of their candidates and platforms. It seems clear that reports of the imminent demise of the two-party system are premature at best.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument above?
A. The percentage of voters registered as independents is higher today than ever before.
B. In a recent presidential campaign, for the first time ever, an independent candidate was invited to appear in a televised debate with the major-party candidates.
C. Every current member of the U.S. Senate was elected as the candidate of one of the two major parties.
D. In a recent opinion poll, most voters stated that a candidate's party affiliation was an insignificant factor in judging his or her fitness for office.
E. In the last four years, the outcome of several statewide elections has been determined by the strength of the third-party vote.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument above?
A. The percentage of voters registered as independents is higher today than ever before.
B. In a recent presidential campaign, for the first time ever, an independent candidate was invited to appear in a televised debate with the major-party candidates.
C. Every current member of the U.S. Senate was elected as the candidate of one of the two major parties.
D. In a recent opinion poll, most voters stated that a candidate's party affiliation was an insignificant factor in judging his or her fitness for office.
E. In the last four years, the outcome of several statewide elections has been determined by the strength of the third-party vote.
12 Aug 2020, 05:00
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aarushi4101
Hello aarushi4101,
Hope this helps you!
We have heard a good deal in recent years about the declining importance of the two major political parties. It is the mass media, we are told, that decide the outcome of elections, not the power of the parties. But it is worth noting that no independent or third-party candidate has won any important election in recent years, and in the last nationwide campaign, the two major parties raised and spent more money than ever before in support of their candidates and platforms. It seems clear that reports of the imminent demise of the two-party system are premature at best.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument above?
A. The percentage of voters registered as independents is higher today than ever before.
B. In a recent presidential campaign, for the first time ever, an independent candidate was invited to appear in a televised debate with the major-party candidates.
C. Every current member of the U.S. Senate was elected as the candidate of one of the two major parties.
D. In a recent opinion poll, most voters stated that a candidate's party affiliation was an insignificant factor in judging his or her fitness for office.
E. In the last four years, the outcome of several statewide elections has been determined by the strength of the third-party vote.
Hello guys!
In the question above, we need to establish the fact that the 2 party system is still active and playing by the rules.
Eliminate Option A, it only talks about independents, so this option is not sufficient.
Eliminate Option B, being invited for a televised debate doesn't help, plus it refers to only 1 party here.
Option C looks good, since it talks on behalf of either of the parties, which is not specific and is neutral in nature. Let's keep it.
Eliminate Option D, out of scope.
Eliminate Option E, it is in favour of the third party, we need to have a balanced approach towards this.
That cuts down to Option C as it is the best option available.
Official Answer:- Option C
Thank you!
Regards,
Raunak Damle
15 May 2022, 11:14
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atulkishor
Hello, atulkishor. Since I see that you have posted just once so far, I will say in any assumption question on the GMAT™, you want to find a necessary assumption that bridges a logical gap between a premise that leads to an argument and the exact argument that is given. Note that in the passage above, we have the following:
Argument: It seems clear that reports of the imminent demise of the two-party system are premature at best.
Now, on what basis is the argument formed? Typically, the main premise can be found right before a standalone argument, and this question proves no exception.
Premise: But it is worth noting that no independent or third-party candidate has won any important election in recent years, and in the last nationwide campaign, the two major parties raised and spent more money than ever before in support of their candidates and platforms.
Just where did money come from, and equally important, what does but stand in opposition to in the beginning? We have to backtrack a little further: It is the mass media, we are told, that decide the outcome of elections, not the power of the parties. Ah, now this should all be coming together. The person making the argument believes that the two major political parties, rather than the mass media, have the power to decide the outcome of elections on the grounds that these parties spent more money than ever before in the last campaign. In other words, spending money is equated with power. Our necessary assumption should tie these loose ends together.
You may use the popular negation technique to work through the answer choices, but I prefer a drag-and-drop technique. If the missing piece (the answer choice) fits, and there is no more logical gap between premise and argument, then you have found your conclusion.
1) It is the mass media, we are told, that decide the outcome of elections, not the power of the parties. But no independent or third-party candidate has won any important election in recent years, and in the last nationwide campaign, the two major parties raised and spent more money than ever before in support of their candidates and platforms.
2) The amount of money raised and spent by a political party is one valid criterion for judging the influence of the party. (Answer choice (A))
3) It seems clear that reports of the imminent demise of the two-party system are premature at best.
You could almost picture a because ahead of 2) or a therefore ahead of 3), and the logic flows unimpeded. No other answer choice comes even close—money is not even mentioned.
Perhaps the question makes a bit more sense now. Good luck with your studies.
- Andrew
