Critical Reasoning

Teenagers are often priced out of the labor market by the government-mandated minimum-wage level because employers cannot afford to pay that much for extra help. Therefore, if Congress institutes a subminimum wage, a new lower legal wage for teenagers, the teenage unemployment rate, which has been rising since 1960, will no longer increase.

Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument above?

(A) Since 1960 the teenage unemployment rate has risen when the minimum wage has risen.

(B) Since 1960 the teenage unemployment rate has risen even when the minimum wage remained constant.

(C) Employers often hire extra help during holiday and warm weather seasons.

(D) The teenage unemployment rate rose more quickly in the 1970’s than it did in the 1960’s.

(E) The teenage unemployment rate has occasionally declined in the years since 1960.

i would say C, this gives the alternate reason for the unemployment. Its not the minimum wage which causes unemployment to rise but its the scarcity of the opportunities.

I think it is B. Unemployment still rose when minimum wage stayed constant. IMO this statement weakens the argument since this shows that there must be something other than the wage that is affecting the unemployment rate.

IMO B

IMO C

IMO B.

Answer will be A. Unemployment is increasing because the teenagers are not paid well.

In A, it says that minimum pay is increased, but still unemployment is raising!

^^^
A strengthens the argument.

B is correct.

I go with C because the issue here is in the conclusion that "the the teenage unemployment rate, which has been rising since 1960, will no longer increase" if the government were to institute a sub minimum wage.

In C, we are told that teens are employed as "extra-help" only during holidays warm weather season and holidays. From this statement we can infer that they are not needed year-round because they are "extra-help" so instituting the sub minimum wage won't address the teenage unemployment rate issue.

OA please - I'm beginning to view this annoying exam as I would a game and the more I do so the better I feel about it.

IMO - C

OA is B. (https://www.urch.com/forums/gmat-critica ... ident.html)

Choice B is definitely better than C: it is the only one that offers insight as to why unemployment rates may continue to increase. If companies hire extra help only during certain seasons, it's possible that those hired could be fired immediately afterwards.

Cannot decide between C and B. Can anyone brake down these two choices for me please