Opinion on the Homeless

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calande: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 34; Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:05 am; Thanked: 1 times

by calande » Fri May 30, 2008 12:54 am

Hey guys,

This one is tricky. I found that my response is the opposite of that of my text book. Please read the passage and answer the questions:

According to a recent study, the majority of people in a large city believe that most homeless people are drug addicts who could get jobs if they wanted to work. However, the public is misinformed. The city's Coalition for the Homeless estimates that over 85% of the homeless population is moderately to severely mentally ill.

Find the conclusion, evidence and assumption in the above argument
Prephrase a strenghener
Prephrase a weakener

Let's see what you come up with. Then I'll give you the response from my course book 8)

Calande.

Source: Beat The GMAT — Critical Reasoning | Fri May 30, 2008 12:54 am

Carlo75: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 64; Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 12:42 am; Location: Italy; Thanked: 1 times

by Carlo75 » Fri May 30, 2008 3:15 am

I think that here we have only two pieces of evidence:
1 - Public belief
2 - Coalition for the Homeless estimates

so the question stem should give us extra information in order to infer a conclusion or strengthen/weaken one of two evidence.

Thoughts?

calande: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 34; Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:05 am; Thanked: 1 times

by calande » Fri May 30, 2008 3:50 am

And who should we contradict or back? 8)

Calande.

loki.gmat: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 187; Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 5:44 amFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 6 times

by loki.gmat » Fri May 30, 2008 10:18 am

1) Conclusion - the public is misinformed.

2) Evidence - The city's Coalition for the Homeless estimates that over 85% of the homeless population is moderately to severely mentally ill.

3) Assumption - Moderately to severely mentally ill people are not drug addicts.

4) Strengther - a statement which strengthens the above assumption.

5) Weakener - weakens the above assumption.

Thanks!

Loki.

calande: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 34; Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:05 am; Thanked: 1 times

by calande » Fri May 30, 2008 1:10 pm

Here's the answer of my text book:

Possible strengthener for the perception of the majority of the public about the homeless: The untreated mentality ill are more likely than others to succomb to illegal drug use.

Possible weakener for the perception of the public about the homeless: Mentally ill people are more susceptible to drug use than other members of the population.

Now, why do we have to weaken/strengthen the public instead of the author? I'm puzzled... I weakened/strengthened the author's belief according to which the public is misinformed.

What do you think?

Calande.

loki.gmat: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 187; Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 5:44 amFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 6 times

by loki.gmat » Fri May 30, 2008 10:53 pm

i dont see any issue with the answers u have provided @calande.

plz remember we always have to weaken or strengthen the base on which an arguments stands.

Thanks!
Loki.

calande: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 34; Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:05 am; Thanked: 1 times

by calande » Sat May 31, 2008 1:51 am

Thanks! Makes sense now

Calande.

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