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MGMAT CR - Evaluate the Argument - Using Variance Test

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Jayanth2689 Rising GMAT Star Default Avatar
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Post Sun Jun 05, 2011 7:49 am
GMATGuruNY wrote:
Jayanth2689 wrote:
GMATGuruNY wrote:
Jayanth2689 wrote:
This question was part of MGMAT CAT 2..i would like to know how to use the Variance Test (from powerscore cr) to assess the validity of the argument..expert replies appreciated

The Civil Service Act of 1883, also known as the Pendleton Act, which created a professional corps of administrators, was passed after a disappointed office-seeker assassinated President James A. Garfield. For a hundred years, this system has anchored American government service to competence rather than corruption. The best way to preserve this state in the new millennium is to maintain the Pendleton Act as it is.

Which of the following would be most useful to evaluate the argument’s conclusion?

A.The methods that the Swiss and British governments have used to prevent corruption in government service for the past one hundred years

B.The current level of job satisfaction among government office-seekers and office-holders

C.The levels of competence and corruption in American government service between 1950 and the present

D.The number of Presidents assassinated since the passage of the Pendleton Act

E.The percentage of office-holders fired or convicted on charges stemming from corruption during the first hundred years of the Pendleton Act
It is claimed that the Act should be maintained because it anchors American government service to competence rather than corruption.

A: The argument is only about American government service. Eliminate A.

B: The argument is not about job satisfaction. Eliminate B.

D: The passage does not claim that the goal of the Act is to prevent assassinations. Eliminate D.

E: Does not offer a way to assess whether the Act promotes competence. Eliminate E.

The correct answer is C.
Thanks GMATGuru! but could you delve into how i can test the effect of an answer choice on the conclusion (provided i narrow it down to 2 answer choices) ?
Make the answer choices extremely positive or negative.
When the correct answer is made extremely positive or negative, the the conclusion of the argument will strengthened or weakened.
When the incorrect answers are made extremely positive or negative, the conclusion of the argument will not be affected.

A.The methods that the Swiss and British governments have used to prevent corruption in government service for the past one hundred years have been hugely successful.

B.The current level of job satisfaction among government office-seekers and office-holders is very low.

C.The level of competence has been very high and the level of corruption has been very low in American government service between 1950 and the present.

D.The number of Presidents assassinated since the passage of the Pendleton Act has been very low.

E.The percentage of office-holders fired or convicted on charges stemming from corruption during the first hundred years of the Pendleton Act has been very high.

When the answers are made extremely positive or negative, only answer choice C helps to determine whether the Act has promoted competence and eradicated corruption.
THANKS! Very Happy it all makes sense now!

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mundasingh123 GMAT Titan Default Avatar
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Post Sun Sep 18, 2011 5:02 am
GMATGuruNY wrote:
Jayanth2689 wrote:
GMATGuruNY wrote:
Jayanth2689 wrote:
This question was part of MGMAT CAT 2..i would like to know how to use the Variance Test (from powerscore cr) to assess the validity of the argument..expert replies appreciated

The Civil Service Act of 1883, also known as the Pendleton Act, which created a professional corps of administrators, was passed after a disappointed office-seeker assassinated President James A. Garfield. For a hundred years, this system has anchored American government service to competence rather than corruption. The best way to preserve this state in the new millennium is to maintain the Pendleton Act as it is.

Which of the following would be most useful to evaluate the argument’s conclusion?

A.The methods that the Swiss and British governments have used to prevent corruption in government service for the past one hundred years

B.The current level of job satisfaction among government office-seekers and office-holders

C.The levels of competence and corruption in American government service between 1950 and the present

D.The number of Presidents assassinated since the passage of the Pendleton Act

E.The percentage of office-holders fired or convicted on charges stemming from corruption during the first hundred years of the Pendleton Act
It is claimed that the Act should be maintained because it anchors American government service to competence rather than corruption.

A: The argument is only about American government service. Eliminate A.

B: The argument is not about job satisfaction. Eliminate B.

D: The passage does not claim that the goal of the Act is to prevent assassinations. Eliminate D.

E: Does not offer a way to assess whether the Act promotes competence. Eliminate E.

The correct answer is C.
Thanks GMATGuru! but could you delve into how i can test the effect of an answer choice on the conclusion (provided i narrow it down to 2 answer choices) ?
Make the answer choices extremely positive or negative.
When the correct answer is made extremely positive or negative, the the conclusion of the argument will strengthened or weakened.
When the incorrect answers are made extremely positive or negative, the conclusion of the argument will not be affected.

A.The methods that the Swiss and British governments have used to prevent corruption in government service for the past one hundred years have been hugely successful.

B.The current level of job satisfaction among government office-seekers and office-holders is very low.

C.The level of competence has been very high and the level of corruption has been very low in American government service between 1950 and the present.

D.The number of Presidents assassinated since the passage of the Pendleton Act has been very low.

E.The percentage of office-holders fired or convicted on charges stemming from corruption during the first hundred years of the Pendleton Act has been very high.

When the answers are made extremely positive or negative, only answer choice C helps to determine whether the Act has promoted competence and eradicated corruption.
Hi GmatGuruNy, as E above suggests , if the percentage of administration officers incarcerated has been high , doesnt it indicate that the act has been ineffective in eliminating corruption .Isnt this a question on the efficacy of the act .

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Post Sun Sep 18, 2011 5:46 am
mundasingh123 wrote:
GMATGuruNY wrote:
Jayanth2689 wrote:
GMATGuruNY wrote:
Jayanth2689 wrote:
This question was part of MGMAT CAT 2..i would like to know how to use the Variance Test (from powerscore cr) to assess the validity of the argument..expert replies appreciated

The Civil Service Act of 1883, also known as the Pendleton Act, which created a professional corps of administrators, was passed after a disappointed office-seeker assassinated President James A. Garfield. For a hundred years, this system has anchored American government service to competence rather than corruption. The best way to preserve this state in the new millennium is to maintain the Pendleton Act as it is.

Which of the following would be most useful to evaluate the argument’s conclusion?

A.The methods that the Swiss and British governments have used to prevent corruption in government service for the past one hundred years

B.The current level of job satisfaction among government office-seekers and office-holders

C.The levels of competence and corruption in American government service between 1950 and the present

D.The number of Presidents assassinated since the passage of the Pendleton Act

E.The percentage of office-holders fired or convicted on charges stemming from corruption during the first hundred years of the Pendleton Act
It is claimed that the Act should be maintained because it anchors American government service to competence rather than corruption.

A: The argument is only about American government service. Eliminate A.

B: The argument is not about job satisfaction. Eliminate B.

D: The passage does not claim that the goal of the Act is to prevent assassinations. Eliminate D.

E: Does not offer a way to assess whether the Act promotes competence. Eliminate E.

The correct answer is C.
Thanks GMATGuru! but could you delve into how i can test the effect of an answer choice on the conclusion (provided i narrow it down to 2 answer choices) ?
Make the answer choices extremely positive or negative.
When the correct answer is made extremely positive or negative, the the conclusion of the argument will strengthened or weakened.
When the incorrect answers are made extremely positive or negative, the conclusion of the argument will not be affected.

A.The methods that the Swiss and British governments have used to prevent corruption in government service for the past one hundred years have been hugely successful.

B.The current level of job satisfaction among government office-seekers and office-holders is very low.

C.The level of competence has been very high and the level of corruption has been very low in American government service between 1950 and the present.

D.The number of Presidents assassinated since the passage of the Pendleton Act has been very low.

E.The percentage of office-holders fired or convicted on charges stemming from corruption during the first hundred years of the Pendleton Act has been very high.

When the answers are made extremely positive or negative, only answer choice C helps to determine whether the Act has promoted competence and eradicated corruption.
Hi GmatGuruNy, as E above suggests , if the percentage of administration officers incarcerated has been high , doesnt it indicate that the act has been ineffective in eliminating corruption .Isnt this a question on the efficacy of the act .
There would be two ways to interpret a high rate of dismissals and convictions: it could imply that the Act has been EFFECTIVE (in that it has rid the government of corrupt officials) or INEFFECTIVE (in that during the course of the Act there has still been a high level of corruption).

Also, the rate of dismissals and convictions would not help us to determine whether the Act has promoted COMPETENCE.

Thus, E does not offer the best way to determine the efficacy of the Act.

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Post Sun Sep 18, 2011 5:57 am
Thank You GmatGuruNY ,This more or less solves the issue

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Post Sun Sep 18, 2011 4:35 pm
OE says a gap of 20 years for choice E.......what does that say.........
I am still not convinced what makes E win over C

please help

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Post Sun Sep 18, 2011 11:04 pm
Jayanth2689 wrote:
This question was part of MGMAT CAT 2..i would like to know how to use the Variance Test (from powerscore cr) to assess the validity of the argument..expert replies appreciated

The Civil Service Act of 1883, also known as the Pendleton Act, which created a professional corps of administrators, was passed after a disappointed office-seeker assassinated President James A. Garfield. For a hundred years, this system has anchored American government service to competence rather than corruption. The best way to preserve this state in the new millennium is to maintain the Pendleton Act as it is.

Which of the following would be most useful to evaluate the argument’s conclusion?

A.The methods that the Swiss and British governments have used to prevent corruption in government service for the past one hundred years

B.The current level of job satisfaction among government office-seekers and office-holders

C.The levels of competence and corruption in American government service between 1950 and the present

D.The number of Presidents assassinated since the passage of the Pendleton Act

E.The percentage of office-holders fired or convicted on charges stemming from corruption during the first hundred years of the Pendleton Act

vikram4689 GMAT Titan
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Post Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:28 pm
Refer to strategy i mentioned here
http://www.beatthegmat.com/after-performing-poorly-on-multiple-t109101.html#463310

The best way to preserve this state in the new millennium is to maintain the Pendleton Act as it is. "this state" refers to For a hundred years, this system has anchored American government service to competence rather than corruption. Using above strategy you will be able to conclude that correct answer is C

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Post Wed Apr 11, 2012 2:05 am
Yes the OA is C. Got the answer...

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Post Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:51 am
Confused between (A) and (C)

Nice explanations all of you. Thank You...

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