Critical Reasoning

To prevent some conflicts of interest, the U.S. government could prohibit intelligence analysts from working as analysts for foreign governments for five years after they left their U.S. positions. One American intelligence analyst concluded, however, that such a prohibition would be unfair because it would prevent former U.S. analysts from earning a living for five years.

The analyst's conclusion logically depends on which of the following assumptions?


(A) Laws should not restrict the behavior of former American intelligence analysts.

(B) Intelligence analysts for foreign governments are typically people who have previously been U.S. analysts.

(C) U.S. government financial analysts do not often become intelligence analysts for foreign governments when they leave American service.

(D) American intelligence analysts who leave U.S. government service are capable of earning a living only as analysts for foreign governments.

(E) American intelligence analysts who leave U.S. government service are currently permitted to act as analysts for foreign governments for only five years

IMO: D

gh_chandra2000 wrote:IMO: D

Agreed. The conclusion is that the restriction will prevent intelligence analysts from earning a living. This only makes sense if what is being prohibited (working for foreign governments) is the only way that analysts can earn a living. If it is NOT true, then there are potentially many other jobs available.

The question is an adaptation of OG question which deals with lobbyists.
IMOD

Bill,

How the answer choice E is eliminated, which looks similar to the correct answer?

Bill@VeritasPrep wrote:

gh_chandra2000 wrote:IMO: D

Agreed. The conclusion is that the restriction will prevent intelligence analysts from earning a living. This only makes sense if what is being prohibited (working for foreign governments) is the only way that analysts can earn a living. If it is NOT true, then there are potentially many other jobs available.

E does not rule out the possibility of analysts finding other employment.

OA is D



To prevent conflicts of interest, former U.S. intelligence analysts should not be able to work for foreign governments for five years after leaving their American jobs. An American analyst, however, says that this would prevent former U.S. analysts from earning a living for five years. This question asks for an assumption that allows the conclusion to be drawn.

This conclusion is logical only if it is assumed that the only potential job opportunity for ex-American intelligence analysts is working in the same capacity for foreign governments. The correct answer should state this assumption.

Choice A says that the actions of ex-U.S. intelligence analysts should not be legally restricted. While the American analyst says this should be true in one particular case, this choice is far too broad.

Choice B says that analysts for foreign governments tend to be former U.S. analysts. While this statement may be true, it is not an assumption needed by the conclusion, because an ex-U.S intelligence analyst could still take another job.

Choice C says that former American financial analysts generally don't become foreign intelligence analysts. The passage says nothing about American financial analysts, so this cannot be an assumption required by the conclusion.

Choice D says that former American analysts can only earn money as foreign analysts. This choice describes the assumption outlined in the first paragraph, making choice D correct.

Choice E says that former American analysts can only work as foreign analysts for five years. The passage is talking about a hypothetical situation, so the current situation is not relevant to the analyst's conclusion.

Choice D is correct.

karthikpandian19 wrote:To prevent some conflicts of interest, the U.S. government could prohibit intelligence analysts from working as analysts for foreign governments for five years after they left their U.S. positions. One American intelligence analyst concluded, however, that such a prohibition would be unfair because it would prevent former U.S. analysts from earning a living for five years.

The analyst's conclusion logically depends on which of the following assumptions?


(A) Laws should not restrict the behavior of former American intelligence analysts.

(B) Intelligence analysts for foreign governments are typically people who have previously been U.S. analysts.

(C) U.S. government financial analysts do not often become intelligence analysts for foreign governments when they leave American service.

(D) American intelligence analysts who leave U.S. government service are capable of earning a living only as analysts for foreign governments.

(E) American intelligence analysts who leave U.S. government service are currently permitted to act as analysts for foreign governments for only five years

karthikpandian19 wrote:
Choice D says that former American analysts can only earn money as foreign analysts. This choice describes the assumption outlined in the first paragraph, making choice D correct.

Haha, I like this explanation. D is the correct assumption because it describes the correct assumption