More thoughts on BFightWithGMAT wrote:Stuart,Stuart Kovinsky wrote:If (b) is the official answer, then never trust questions from this source again - (b) is definitely not a weakener.
As Jatinder notes, if anything (b) actually (minimally) strengthens the argument, since the author's point is that the higher minimum wage will have little impact on the economy, and (b) says that some companies ignore the minimum wage law entirely. If companies ignore it, who cares what the new minimum wage is?
(c) is correct because it's the only choice that makes us think that a higher minimum wage affects not only minimum wage earners, but also higher paid employees. So, even though it may be true that not many people earn minimum wage, bumping up the minimum wage could lead to an increase in other wages as well.
As for many vs some, I have never seen this issue arise on the GMAT. The problem with using LSAT materials to study for the GMAT is that the LSAT is a very different exam and logical reasoning is NOT always comparable to critical reasoning. Relevant to this thread, the LSAT frequently tests formal logic, the area in which some/many/most/all/etc... need to be understood.
On the LSAT, some = many, i.e. they both mean "at least one". On the GMAT, I wouldn't worry about the distinction; instead, focus on the scope of the argument and look for the choice that's most relevant.
I understood your reasoning. But i have a doubt here.
B says some, it could be as least 1 or anything from 1 to 49 %.
Now C says
Many businesses hire trainees at or near the minimum wage but must
reward trained workers by keeping their paylevels above the pay level
of trainees.
There is an indicator OR.
All of these MANY trainees can either exactly at 5 dollar (minimum) or below 5 dollar.
If all of these many, a possibility, are exactly 5 dollar then the statement would not weaken the argument at all as argument says that the proportion of workers who get LESS that minimum.
So from C, can we say surely that majority of these MANY people are earning LESS than 5 dollar.
C can produce trivial answers.
B says some companies NOT some people. There is a good possibility that these some companies hire majority of workers who earn LESS than 5 dollars...
This is just my opinion.
