Critical Reasoning

NandishSS wrote:Which of the following provides the most logical completion of the argument?

A large number of Wempro Corporation's department heads will retire this year. The number of employees with the qualifications now required for promotion to department head equals only half the expected vacancies. Wempro is not going to hire department heads from outside the company, have current department heads take over more than one department, or reduce the number of its departments. So some departments will be without department heads next year, since Wempro will not ______________

A) reduce the qualifications for promotion to department head
B) reduce the average number of employees per department
C) reduce the responsibilities of each department
D) promote more than one employee from any department to serve as heads of departments
E) promote any current department heads to higher-level managerial positions

GMATGuruNY wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 28, 2016 4:36 am

NandishSS wrote:Which of the following provides the most logical completion of the argument?

A large number of Wempro Corporation's department heads will retire this year. The number of employees with the qualifications now required for promotion to department head equals only half the expected vacancies. Wempro is not going to hire department heads from outside the company, have current department heads take over more than one department, or reduce the number of its departments. So some departments will be without department heads next year, since Wempro will not ______________

A) reduce the qualifications for promotion to department head
B) reduce the average number of employees per department
C) reduce the responsibilities of each department
D) promote more than one employee from any department to serve as heads of departments
E) promote any current department heads to higher-level managerial positions

Premise:
The number of employees with the qualifications to be promoted to department head is equal to only half the expected vacancies.
Conclusion:
Some departments will be without department heads next year, since Wempro will not DO X.
Conclusion, rephrased:
If Wempro DID X, all departments could have department heads.

The correct answer choice must show how all departments could have department heads.

A) reduce the qualifications for promotion to department head
If Wempro were to reduce the qualifications for promotion, then all departments could have department heads, since the only reason for the expected vacancies is a lack of qualified employees.

The correct answer is A.

B) reduce the average number of employees per department
If Wempro were to reduce the average number of employees per department, some departments would still be without department heads, since -- according to the premise -- not enough lower-level employees have the qualifications to be promoted to department head.
Eliminate B.

C) reduce the responsibilities of each department
If Wempro were to reduce the responsibilities of each department, some departments would still be without department heads, since -- according to the premise -- not enough lower-level employees have the qualifications to be promoted to department head.
Eliminate C.

D) promote more than one employee from any department to serve as heads of departments
If Wempro were willing to promote more than one employee from any department, some departments would still be without department heads, since -- according to the premise -- not enough lower-level employees have the qualifications to be promoted to department head.
Eliminate D.

E) promote any current department heads to higher-level managerial positions
If Wempro were to promote any current department heads to higher-level managerial positions, the result would be an INCREASE in the number of departments without department heads, since -- according to the premise -- not enough lower-level employees have the qualifications to be promoted to department head.
Eliminate E.