GMAT Club - shopping mall in a mostly rural area

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A developer wants to build a shopping mall in a mostly rural area of a mid-sized city. In the letter to the city council requesting a building permit, the developer argues that the permit should be granted because the shopping mall, if successful, will ultimately benefit the city by creating jobs in a place where the unemployment rate is slightly higher than the national average.

Which of the following, if true, will be most helpful in strengthening the developer’s petition before the city council?

A. A citizens’ group has circulated a petition collecting signatures in support of the developer’s plan.
B. The city code requires that proposals for all new structures be voted upon and approved by the city council.
C. The developer has already obtained verbal agreements from several retailers who plan to open stores in the future shopping mall.
D. The city’s largest percentage of unemployed people lives in the rural area where the proposed shopping mall would be built.
E. The city will benefit financially from the new shopping mall, because all sales tax revenues will go to the city.

OA D. I like E

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by 4meonly » Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:44 am
Official explanation:

Situation:A developer seeking permission to build a shopping mall argues that the mall will create jobs in an area where unemployment is high.

Reasoning:Which option will most strengthen the developer’s petition? The developer’s letter to the city council focuses on the benefits available to the city if the mall is constructed. The city will benefit if those currently unemployed begin working and spending money to increase the city’s tax base. The correct answer will follow the line of reasoning that the mall will be of benefit to the city.

This may demonstrate that local residents support the mall, but it does not necessarily aid the developer’s position before the city council.
City building codes are not relevant to the discussion of whether a new shopping mall will benefit the city financially.
This may boost confidence in the potential success of the shopping mall, but it does not follow the line of reasoning set forth in the developer’s letter.
Correct. This strengthens the developer's petition because of potential reduction of unemployment rate.
This answer choice, though provides a good argument, falls outside of the scope of the original statement
The correct answer is D.


I think that D is ordinary rephrasing the stimulus. But E provides ADDITIONAL Evidence, therefore, E is correct.

Any ideas?

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by nervesofsteel » Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:24 am
The developer is looking for permission to build a mall based on the decrease of unemployment rate.. he is not talking of any revenue benefits to the city to seek the permission....
and to strengthen the arguments ... it will be worthy to find out if the permission is granted what impact it will cause on unemployment rate of the area and City... if more unemployed people are living in area .. then they will get employed when the mall will open... thus strengthens the argument...

IMO revenues are not discussed as the basis of seeking permission....

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by gg1 » Thu Jan 15, 2009 12:45 pm
E cannot be the answer bcoz we are not talking abt financial benefits.

The developer is putting in proposal with the arguement that it will increase employment. D supports this and it is the answer.