In 2001 the Peruvian government began requiring tourists

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In 2001 the Peruvian government began requiring tourists to buy expensive permits to hike the remote Inca Trail, which goes to the ancient city of Machu Picchu, The total number of permits is strictly limited; infact, only 500 people per day are now allowed to hike the Inca Trail, whereas before 2001 daily visitors numbered in the thousands. The Peruvian government claims that this permit program has successfully prevented deterioration of archaeological treasures along the Inca Trail.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument above?

(A)Since 2001, tourist guides along the Inca Trail have received 50% to 100% increases in take-home pay.

(B)Villages near Machu Picchu have experienced declines in income, as fewer tourists buy fewer craft goods and refreshments.

(C)Many of the funds from the sale of Inca Trail permits are used to staff a museum of Incan culture in Lima, Peru's capital, and to hire guards for archaeological sites without permit programs.

(D)Since 2001, Incan ruins similar to Machu Picchu but not on the Inca Trail have disintegrated at a significantly greater rate than those on the Inca Trail.

(E)The total number of tourists in Peru has risen substantially since 2001, even as the number of tourists hiking the Inca Trail has remained constant.

Answer is D

Can anyone please explain in detail how to get through the right answer.

Thanks & Regards
Vinni
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by Bill@VeritasPrep » Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:52 am
Conclusion: the permit program has prevented archaelogical deterioration.

Evidence: In 2001, the permit requirement started, reducing daily visitors to 500 from "thousands."

Is this a convincing argument? Not particularly; there's no link demonstrated between the reduction in visitors and the reduction in deterioration. To strengthen, we'll need to provide that link.

A--the pay of tourist guides is irrelevant to visitors and deterioration

B--village income is also irrelevant to the argument

C--the museum in Lima and other archaeological sites are irrelevant.

D--If similar sites without the permit program show higher deterioration rates, then it is evidence that the permit program has had some effect on the Inca Trail's deterioration rates

E--we only care about visitors to the Inca Trail, not visitors to Peru in general

Really, once we've identified the conclusion here, D is the only one that fits.
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by vinni.k » Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:51 am
Thanks Bill. Appreciate your reply.

I marked C and D as contenders but got confused with the wording of D. May be i was reading too fast that i didn't realize that C is talking about Peru and not Machu Picchu.

What is the level of this question ? Does it comes under hard question type or medium question type ?

Thanks & Regards
Vinni

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by seal4913 » Fri Apr 06, 2012 1:45 pm
vinni.k wrote:Thanks Bill. Appreciate your reply.

I marked C and D as contenders but got confused with the wording of D. May be i was reading too fast that i didn't realize that C is talking about Peru and not Machu Picchu.

What is the level of this question ? Does it comes under hard question type or medium question type ?

Thanks & Regards
Vinni
After reading a lot of differnt CR I think this falls under easy

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by Bill@VeritasPrep » Fri Apr 06, 2012 6:41 pm
It's fairly straightforward once you know what you're looking for, but I can see how it could trip people up.
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by GmatKiss » Tue Apr 10, 2012 12:20 pm
IMO : D