The average hourly wage of television assemblers in Vernland

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The average hourly wage of television assemblers in Vernland has long been significantly lower than that in neighboring Borodia. Since Borodia dropped all tariffs on Vernlandian televisions three years ago, the number of televisions sold annually in Borodia has not changed. However, recent statistics show a droip in the number of television assemblers in Borodia. Therefore, updated trade statistics will probably indicate that the number of televisions Borodia imports annually from Vernland has increased.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

(A) The number of television assemblers in Vernland has increased by at least as much as the number of television assemblers in Borodia has decreased.

(B) Televisions assembled in Vernland have features that televisions assembled in Borodia do not have.

(C) The average number of hours it takes a Borodian television assembler to assemble a television has not decreased significantly during the past three years.

(D) The number of televisions assembled annually in Vernland has increased significantly during the past three years.

(E) The difference between the hourly wage of television assemblers in Vernland and the hourly wage of television assemblers in Borodia is likely to decrease in the next few years.

Please explain why the answer is C

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by DavidG@VeritasPrep » Mon Sep 11, 2017 9:41 am
ardz24 wrote:The average hourly wage of television assemblers in Vernland has long been significantly lower than that in neighboring Borodia. Since Borodia dropped all tariffs on Vernlandian televisions three years ago, the number of televisions sold annually in Borodia has not changed. However, recent statistics show a droip in the number of television assemblers in Borodia. Therefore, updated trade statistics will probably indicate that the number of televisions Borodia imports annually from Vernland has increased.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

(A) The number of television assemblers in Vernland has increased by at least as much as the number of television assemblers in Borodia has decreased.

(B) Televisions assembled in Vernland have features that televisions assembled in Borodia do not have.

(C) The average number of hours it takes a Borodian television assembler to assemble a television has not decreased significantly during the past three years.

(D) The number of televisions assembled annually in Vernland has increased significantly during the past three years.

(E) The difference between the hourly wage of television assemblers in Vernland and the hourly wage of television assemblers in Borodia is likely to decrease in the next few years.

Please explain why the answer is C
Conclusion: Stats will show that Borodia is importing more TV's from Vernland
Premises: - fewer TV assemblers in Borodia
- # of TV's sold in Borodia unchanged after tariff on TV's imported from Vernland dropped

If the # of TV's sold in Borodia is unchanged, and the number of TV assemblers has dropped, one of two things has happened. Either A) Borodia is producing fewer TV's domestically and needs to increase its imports or B) Borodia's TV assemblers have somehow become more efficient and can still keep up with demands despite the fact that there are fewer of them. If the conclusion is 'A,' then our assumption is 'Not B,' domestic assemblers in Borodia have NOT become more efficient. This is what C gives us.
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by DavidG@VeritasPrep » Mon Sep 11, 2017 9:43 am
ardz24 wrote:The average hourly wage of television assemblers in Vernland has long been significantly lower than that in neighboring Borodia. Since Borodia dropped all tariffs on Vernlandian televisions three years ago, the number of televisions sold annually in Borodia has not changed. However, recent statistics show a droip in the number of television assemblers in Borodia. Therefore, updated trade statistics will probably indicate that the number of televisions Borodia imports annually from Vernland has increased.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

(A) The number of television assemblers in Vernland has increased by at least as much as the number of television assemblers in Borodia has decreased.

(B) Televisions assembled in Vernland have features that televisions assembled in Borodia do not have.

(C) The average number of hours it takes a Borodian television assembler to assemble a television has not decreased significantly during the past three years.

(D) The number of televisions assembled annually in Vernland has increased significantly during the past three years.

(E) The difference between the hourly wage of television assemblers in Vernland and the hourly wage of television assemblers in Borodia is likely to decrease in the next few years.

Please explain why the answer is C
Alternatively, you could do the negation test. The correct answer to an Assumption question, when negated, will undermine the argument.

C negated: The average number of hours it takes a Borodian television assembler to assemble a television HAS decreased significantly during the past three years.

Well, if Borodian assemblers are working faster and they're producing more TV's, then it's no longer necessary to assume that imports from Vernland have increased. Because C, when negated, undermines the conclusion, this is our answer.
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