doubt CR 2

This topic has expert replies
Legendary Member
Posts: 774
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2012 4:32 am
Thanked: 46 times
Followed by:14 members

doubt CR 2

by aditya8062 » Fri Dec 26, 2014 5:03 am
No resident of Country X should consider the loss of the traditional tribal structure to be a tragedy. When tribal traditions dominated the culture of Country X, the economy was extremely depressed. However, since the loss of the tribal tradition, Country X has experienced the fastest growth of any economy on the continent. Per capita income has increased more than twentyfold, the trade deficit has become a trade surplus, and the unemployment rate is at an all-time low.

Which of the following questions, if answered, would be most helpful in evaluating the validity of the argument above?

(A) How long did tribal structures in Country X exist before they were lost?
(B) Is the tribal structure the only part of traditional culture that Country X has lost?
(C) Are there any other countries with similar tribal structures that have also experienced recent economic growth?
(D) What percentage of residents in Country X considers the loss of traditional tribal structures to be a tragedy?
(E) Are there any sectors other than high technology that have experienced an increase in jobs?


my concern: i feel C is a better option here. for if i know that there are other countries with similar tribal structures that have also experienced recent economic growth THEN i can say for sure that "breaking down of the tribal structure" was not the reason for the "observed growth" . effectively that will be give me a reason to believe that THERE MUST BE some other reason in both these countries !! who knows the world in general might be registering a record economic growth
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Sat Dec 27, 2014 5:02 pm
This is an EVALUATE CR.
The correct answer to an EVALUATE CR must STRENGTHEN OR WEAKEN the conclusion.

Premise: Since the loss of tribal TRADITIONS, Country X has experienced the fastest growth of any economy on the continent.
Conclusion: A loss of tribal STRUCTURE in Country X has caused Country X to experience the fastest growth of any economy on the continent.

Notice the change in SCOPE.
Whereas the premise is about the loss of tribal TRADITIONS, the conclusion is about the loss of tribal STRUCTURE.
One assumption is that NO OTHER TRIBAL LOSS has caused Country X to experience the fastest economic growth of any economy on the continent.

Here, the answer choices are phrased as questions.
Rephrase the answer choices as STATEMENTS.
Rephrased as a statement, the correct answer choice will strengthen or weaken the conclusion that the loss of tribal structure in Country X is responsible for the recent economic growth in Country X.

B, rephrased as a statement:
Tribal structure is the only part of traditional culture that Country X has lost.
Here, no other part of traditional culture has been lost, STRENGTHENING the conclusion that the loss of tribal STRUCTURE in Country X is responsible for the recent economic growth in Country X.

The correct answer is B.

C, rephrased as a statement:
There are other countries with similar tribal structures that have also experienced recent economic growth.
But why has Country X experienced the FASTEST economic growth?
Here, we have no idea whether Country X has experienced the FASTEST economic growth because of the loss of tribal structure or because of some other reason.
Eliminate C.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3

Legendary Member
Posts: 774
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2012 4:32 am
Thanked: 46 times
Followed by:14 members

by aditya8062 » Sat Dec 27, 2014 6:45 pm
But why has Country X experienced the FASTEST economic growth?
Here, we have no idea whether Country X has experienced the FASTEST economic growth because of the loss of tribal structure or because of some other reason.
Eliminate C.
Thanks Guru for you reply . i like the distinction of "FASTEST" that you have pointed out. but please tell me had the argument been just about an "economic growth" then would C not make a good option to evaluate?

let me evaluate option C in the case

C says: Are there any other countries with similar tribal structures that have also experienced recent economic growth?---->yes there are countries with similar "thing" AND have experienced the same economic growth ----->implying that there must be "some other" factor that has led to economic growth ----->WEAKENING the argument

NOW

C says: Are there any other countries with similar tribal structures that have also experienced recent economic growth?-------->NO there are no "other countries" with similar tribal structure that have experienced the same growth------> there by strengthening the argument


Thanks and regards

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
Followed by:1906 members
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Mon Dec 29, 2014 9:17 am
aditya8062 wrote:
But why has Country X experienced the FASTEST economic growth?
Here, we have no idea whether Country X has experienced the FASTEST economic growth because of the loss of tribal structure or because of some other reason.
Eliminate C.
Thanks Guru for you reply . i like the distinction of "FASTEST" that you have pointed out. but please tell me had the argument been just about an "economic growth" then would C not make a good option to evaluate?

let me evaluate option C in the case

C says: Are there any other countries with similar tribal structures that have also experienced recent economic growth?---->yes there are countries with similar "thing" AND have experienced the same economic growth ----->implying that there must be "some other" factor that has led to economic growth ----->WEAKENING the argument

NOW

C says: Are there any other countries with similar tribal structures that have also experienced recent economic growth?-------->NO there are no "other countries" with similar tribal structure that have experienced the same growth------> there by strengthening the argument


Thanks and regards
C: Are there any other countries with similar tribal structures that have also experienced recent economic growth?
Possible answer to this question: There is no other country with a similar tribal structure.
In this case, no information is yielded that will help us determine whether the loss of tribal structure in Country X is responsible for the economic growth in Country X.
Eliminate C.

Generally, I would be skeptical of an answer choice that draws an analogy.
What is true for one country might not be true for another.
What is not true for one country might still be true for another.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3