Critical Reasoning

The current administration and Congress have once again practiced bad public policy in failing to increase Pell grants or at least limit their reduction for next year's budget. Pell grants improve access to higher education for those who have historically been disadvantaged in our society by financial or other life circumstances, thereby helping recipients elevate themselves to the middle class. Without that access, the gap between the rich and poor in this country will continue to widen, increasingly straining the stability of our democracy.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the conclusion of this argument?

A. Total spending on programs targeted at improving access to higher education for disadvantaged students will increase in next year's federal budget.
B. The neediest candidates for Pell grants often lack information about their eligibility for such grants.
C. Congress recently authorized a bill that will increase after-school programs in urban communities.
D. On average, an individual Pell grant funds less than 15% of the full cost of attending a four-year college or university.
E. Federal spending on education for next year will increase as a percentage of the total budget.

Argument:
1. Pell grants improves to access to education for disadvantaged students.
2. So, With out Pell grants gap between rich and poor increases.

Why is that? Can't we help those disadvantaged in any other way?

A - answer;
B - just talks about a subset of disadvantaged students.

IMO: B.

Whats the OA?

Thanks.

OA is A. I was confused about A and B.

some times personalizing the argument helps;

Choice(A):

A: Pell grants help disadvantaged students; So,by not funding Pell grants, the gap between rich and poor is increasing.

B : Why is that, Several other programs are being funded which help the disadvantaged students.

Here B rebuts A's argument by saying there are other programs which do the same job so Pell Grants are not really needed.


choice (B):

A: Pell grants help disadvantaged students; So,by not funding Pell grants, the gap between rich and poor is increasing.

B : Pell grants are not helpful because neediest students are not eligible.

A : Yea,may not be the neediest but many disadvantaged students get benefited. There by reducing the rich and poor gap;

Here A rebuts B easily; Reason is B is covering only subset of the disadvantaged people.