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television announcement (denying an assumption)

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by rahul.s » Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:37 pm
Television Announcement:

Since Mark Mormont was appointed CEO of Eletco, this state's largest power company, critics have complained about the number of jobs lost due to Mormont's closure of several of Eletco's power plants. Yet the truth is that, despite the closure of these plants, more power plant jobs have been created in this state each year than have been eliminated since Mormont's appointment, and the average pay for new power plant jobs created has been higher, each year, than the average pay for jobs statewide. So, it is reasonable to assume that the average paycheck for power plant workers statewide has been getting steadily bigger each year that Mormont has been CEO.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument in the announcement?

(A) The unemployment rate in this state is higher today than it was when Mormont was appointed CEO.

(B) The average pay for power plant jobs in the state was at a five-year low when Mormont was appointed.

(C) In each year that Mormont has been CEO, the average pay for the power plant jobs that were eliminated has been higher than the average pay for jobs statewide.

(D) Most of the power plant jobs eliminated while Mormont has been CEO were in sectors of the industry that were more efficiently run by technology.

(E) The average pay for power plant jobs in this state is currently lower than it is for jobs in less populated states.

OA: C
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by fibbonnaci » Mon Feb 01, 2010 12:45 am
This is a simple one. most of the answer choices turn out to be junk.
what is the conclusion:
the average paycheck for power plant workers statewide has been getting steadily bigger each year that Mormont has been CEO.

premise: average pay for new power plant jobs created has been higher, each year, than the average pay for jobs statewide

and more power plant jobs have been created in this state each year than have been eliminated since Mormont's appointment

so you see the link- pay and the jobs lost are connected. that is the major link. if the author weakens this link, the stimulus crashes.

lets dissect them:

(A) The unemployment rate in this state is higher today than it was when Mormont was appointed CEO. [ this goes against what the stimulus tells. they say that though ppl feel more jobs have been lost in essence greater jobs have been created. eliminated!]

(B) The average pay for power plant jobs in the state was at a five-year low when Mormont was appointed. [ we are concerned about the changes after Mormont was appointed. what the condition was when he was appointed is of no concern to us. Eliminated!]

(C) In each year that Mormont has been CEO, the average pay for the power plant jobs that were eliminated has been higher than the average pay for jobs statewide. [ voila! it righfully weakens the very same link we had established. if the higher paid employees were the ones who were eliminated then it does not make sense to think that salaries are growing bigger each year. Correct!]

(D) Most of the power plant jobs eliminated while Mormont has been CEO were in sectors of the industry that were more efficiently run by technology. [this does not address the stimulus remotely also! eliminated!]

(E) The average pay for power plant jobs in this state is currently lower than it is for jobs in less populated states. [ we are not concerned about comparing with other states. we do not have information to do this comparison. our passage talks about only one particular state and we are bothered about it only. Eliminated]

Hope this helps!
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by thephoenix » Mon Feb 01, 2010 12:48 am
got it by POE
rahul.s wrote:Television Announcement:

(A) The unemployment rate in this state is higher today than it was when Mormont was appointed CEO.
out of scope as unemployment rate is not discussed

(B) The average pay for power plant jobs in the state was at a five-year low when Mormont was appointed.
it strengthens the argument

(C) In each year that Mormont has been CEO, the average pay for the power plant jobs that were eliminated has been higher than the average pay for jobs statewide.

(D) Most of the power plant jobs eliminated while Mormont has been CEO were in sectors of the industry that were more efficiently run by technology.
this doesn't helps to disprove that the average paycheck for power plant workers statewide has been getting steadily bigger each year that Mormont has been CEO
(E) The average pay for power plant jobs in this state is currently lower than it is for jobs in less populated states.
pay of jobs outside states is not the issue here

hence only left is C
OA: C
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by gmatmachoman » Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:08 am
fibbonnaci wrote:
(C) In each year that Mormont has been CEO, the average pay for the power plant jobs that were eliminated has been higher than the average pay for jobs statewide. [ voila! it righfully weakens the very same link we had established. if the higher paid employees were the ones who were eliminated then it does not make sense to think that salaries are growing bigger each year. Correct!]

Bingo..That was good explanation!
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