2 Party Sustem

Expert replies

ronnie1985: Legendary Member; Posts: 626; Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:50 amFollowed by: 10 members; Location: Ahmedabad; Thanked: 31 times

by ronnie1985 » Sun May 27, 2012 8:14 am

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 is an assumption made in the argument above?
(A) The amount of money raised and spent by a political party is one valid criterion for judging the influence of the party.
(B) A significant increase in the number of third-party candidates would be evidence of a decline in the importance of the two major parties.
(C) The two-party system has contributed significantly to the stability of the American political structure.
(D) The mass media tend to favor an independent or third-party candidate over a candidate from one of the two major parties.
(E) The mass media are relatively unimportant in deciding the outcome of most elections.
OA [spoiler](A)[/spoiler]

Why is the option (D) wrong

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Critical Reasoning | Sun May 27, 2012 8:14 am

ritz_g: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 4; Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2012 7:56 pm

by ritz_g » Mon May 28, 2012 12:48 am

Is B the correct answer?

Ashujain: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 123; Joined: Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:36 amFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 29 times

by Ashujain » Mon May 28, 2012 3:18 am

ronnie1985 wrote: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 is an assumption made in the argument above?
(A) The amount of money raised and spent by a political party is one valid criterion for judging the influence of the party.
(B) A significant increase in the number of third-party candidates would be evidence of a decline in the importance of the two major parties.
(C) The two-party system has contributed significantly to the stability of the American political structure.
(D) The mass media tend to favor an independent or third-party candidate over a candidate from one of the two major parties.
(E) The mass media are relatively unimportant in deciding the outcome of most elections.
OA [spoiler](A)[/spoiler]

Why is the option (D) wrong

Here, A should be the answer because this assumption is directly related to the conclusion of the argument as evident in "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."
D is not correct because it in no way related to the conclusion. It might be assumed somewhere in the argument but we have to pick the best answer and the best answer in this case would be the one which is directly related to the conclusion. OR in other words without which the conclusion becomes vague.

Hope it helps!

Gaurav 2013-fall: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 307; Joined: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:45 pm; Thanked: 12 times; GMAT Score:700

by Gaurav 2013-fall » Mon May 28, 2012 9:02 am

Hows A better than B. whats the source of this prob??

ritz_g: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 4; Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2012 7:56 pm

by ritz_g » Mon May 28, 2012 9:37 pm

On second reading, seems A is a better choice than B.

B would have been the best choice if it had mentioned increase in number of third-party candidates winning. However, it just states the increase in their usual number irrespective of their win status ( basically elections outcome). Author also clearly mentions the lack of third party "wins" + money spent by two major parties before moving to the conclusion.

Hence A is nearer to correct choice.

@Ronnie1985, please help with the correct Answer.

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