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graduates

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by ketkoag » Mon May 11, 2009 2:18 am
In the 1970’s there was an oversupply of college graduates. The oversupply caused the average annual income of college graduates to fall to a level only 18 percent greater than that of workers with only high school diplomas. By the late 1980’s the average annual income of college graduates was 43 percent higher than that of workers with only high school diplomas, even though between the 1970’s and the late 1980’s the supply of college graduates did not decrease.
Which of the following, if true, in the late 1980’s, best reconciles the apparent discrepancy described above?
(A) The economy slowed, thus creating a decreased demand for college graduates.
(B) The quality of high school education improved.
(C) Compared to the 1970’s, a greater number of high schools offered vocational guidance programs for their students.
(D) The proportion of the population with at least a college-level education increased.
(E) There was for the first time in 20 years an oversupply of job seekers with only high school diplomas.


Here, I selected A, but OA is E. Please explain what is the difference between A and E and why E is better than A.
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Re: graduates

by Pranay » Mon May 11, 2009 2:32 am
ketkoag wrote:In the 1970’s there was an oversupply of college graduates. The oversupply caused the average annual income of college graduates to fall to a level only 18 percent greater than that of workers with only high school diplomas. By the late 1980’s the average annual income of college graduates was 43 percent higher than that of workers with only high school diplomas, even though between the 1970’s and the late 1980’s the supply of college graduates did not decrease.
Which of the following, if true, in the late 1980’s, best reconciles the apparent discrepancy described above?
(A) The economy slowed, thus creating a decreased demand for college graduates.
(B) The quality of high school education improved.
(C) Compared to the 1970’s, a greater number of high schools offered vocational guidance programs for their students.
(D) The proportion of the population with at least a college-level education increased.
(E) There was for the first time in 20 years an oversupply of job seekers with only high school diplomas.


Here, I selected A, but OA is E. Please explain what is the difference between A and E and why E is better than A.
From the passage,

when the number of degree holders increased their pay scale decreased.

My perception is that the question asks the reason which best negates the 43% pay rate of college graduates.

Two reasons,

1. The number of college grads decreased.
2. The number of diploma holders increased.

E clearly focusses on the point E. Thus E.

Why not A?
A states the economy sent off. This would mean that no new college grads/diploma holders are hired and if hired, they would be paid less because of low economy.

Hope, it helps. :)

Pranay
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Re: graduates

by ketkoag » Mon May 11, 2009 4:39 am
Pranay wrote:
ketkoag wrote:
Why not A?
A states the economy sent off. This would mean that no new college grads/diploma holders are hired and if hired, they would be paid less because of low economy.

Hope, it helps. :)

Pranay
Please lemme know how slow economy means less pay, coz it might be possible that in this economy the number of people hired is less but the pay is high that means less employees more pay!! Also, it says decreased demand, not no demand of college graduates.
Why i rejected E coz, if E is true then the diploma holders will get more jobs that can increase the annual income of Diploma holders, thus may decrease the percentage of income of college graduates higher than that of workers with only high school diplomas and this does not support the fact that "By the late 1980’s the average annual income of college graduates was 43 percent higher than that of workers with only high school diplomas". please explain if i am not reasonable to select option A.
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Re: graduates

by success1111 » Mon May 11, 2009 5:58 am
ketkoag wrote:In the 1970’s there was an oversupply of college graduates. The oversupply caused the average annual income of college graduates to fall to a level only 18 percent greater than that of workers with only high school diplomas. By the late 1980’s the average annual income of college graduates was 43 percent higher than that of workers with only high school diplomas, even though between the 1970’s and the late 1980’s the supply of college graduates did not decrease.
Which of the following, if true, in the late 1980’s, best reconciles the apparent discrepancy described above?
(A) The economy slowed, thus creating a decreased demand for college graduates.
(B) The quality of high school education improved.
(C) Compared to the 1970’s, a greater number of high schools offered vocational guidance programs for their students.
(D) The proportion of the population with at least a college-level education increased.
(E) There was for the first time in 20 years an oversupply of job seekers with only high school diplomas.


Here, I selected A, but OA is E. Please explain what is the difference between A and E and why E is better than A.
E is the best answer.

Look at it this way.Oversupply caused College graduate to have 18 % salary higher than high school diploma.What if there is oversuppy of high school diploma too in 1980? That means the salary of high school diploma will fall in relation with college's salary that has not yet increased,but increased in comparison with high school diploma.

The question is more of ratio than of logic.
Trust but verify.
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Re: graduates

by Minheequang » Sat May 16, 2009 9:42 am
Sure E

In the 1970’s there was an oversupply of college graduates. The oversupply caused the average annual income of college graduates to fall to a level only 18 percent greater than that of workers with only high school diplomas. By the late 1980’s the average annual income of college graduates was 43 percent higher than that of workers with only high school diplomas, even though between the 1970’s and the late 1980’s the supply of college graduates did not decrease.
Which of the following, if true, in the late 1980’s, best reconciles the apparent discrepancy described above?
(A) The economy slowed, thus creating a decreased demand for college graduates -->strengthen the discrepancy. Decrease demand for college graduates means their average income also decreases
(B) The quality of high school education improved -->no influence
(C) Compared to the 1970’s, a greater number of high schools offered vocational guidance programs for their students -->no influence
(D) The proportion of the population with at least a college-level education increased -->strengthen disprepancy
(E) There was for the first time in 20 years an oversupply of job seekers with only high school diplomas -->best. Oversupply of only high school job seekers means their average income will decrease
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Re: graduates

by vinaynp » Sun May 17, 2009 12:57 am
ketkoag wrote:In the 1970’s there was an oversupply of college graduates. The oversupply caused the average annual income of college graduates to fall to a level only 18 percent greater than that of workers with only high school diplomas. By the late 1980’s the average annual income of college graduates was 43 percent higher than that of workers with only high school diplomas, even though between the 1970’s and the late 1980’s the supply of college graduates did not decrease.
Which of the following, if true, in the late 1980’s, best reconciles the apparent discrepancy described above?
(A) The economy slowed, thus creating a decreased demand for college graduates.
(B) The quality of high school education improved.
(C) Compared to the 1970’s, a greater number of high schools offered vocational guidance programs for their students.
(D) The proportion of the population with at least a college-level education increased.
(E) There was for the first time in 20 years an oversupply of job seekers with only high school diplomas.


Here, I selected A, but OA is E. Please explain what is the difference between A and E and why E is better than A.
There are two possible scenarios which can explain the discrepancy:-
i) The demand for college graduates increased which led to higher salaries compared to high school graduates.
ii) The over supply of high school graduates led to decline of the salaries.

A) It is out of scope.
B) This doesn't help to explain the discrepancy.
C) Additional Information. Not helpful.
D) This would lead to less salary for college graduates.
E) This satisfies the ii) scenario.
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by Musicolo » Mon May 18, 2009 12:34 am
this was an easy and obvious one. I thought of it before I even read the answers. Good explenations above as well.
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by mason77 » Sun May 15, 2016 2:31 pm
I picked option E
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