The stable functioning of a society

This topic has expert replies
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 107
Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:09 pm
GMAT Score:710

The stable functioning of a society

by sumitkhurana » Sun Mar 01, 2009 8:36 am
The stable functioning of a society depends upon the relatively long-term stability of the goals of its citizens. This is clear from the fact that unless the majority of individuals have a predictable and enduring set of aspirations, it will be impossible for a legislature to craft laws that will augment the satisfaction of the citizenry, and it should be obvious that a society is stable only if its laws tend to increase the happiness of its citizens.
The claim that a society is stable only if its laws tend to increase the happiness of its citizens plays which one of the following roles in the argument?
(A) It is the conclusion of the argument.
(B) It helps to support the conclusion of the argument.
(C) It is a claim that must be refuted if the conclusion is to be established.
(D) It is a consequence of the argument.
(E) It is used to illustrate the general principle that the argument presupposes.
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 239
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:50 am

by delhiboy1979 » Mon Mar 02, 2009 3:04 am
I would go with E solely because:

Presupposition: 1st line ->The stable functioning of a society depends upon the relatively long-term stability of the goals of its citizens.

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 377
Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:30 am
Thanked: 15 times
Followed by:2 members

by schumi_gmat » Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:31 pm
yes IMO E.

As said by delhiboy

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 105
Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2007 5:57 am
Thanked: 3 times

by abhi75 » Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:21 pm
IMO the answer is B. What is the OA?

The conclusion of the argument is in the beginning

The stable functioning of a society depends upon the relatively long-term stability of the goals of its citizens.

First sentence is the conclusion, the second is the fact in support of the argument, and from this it is obvious that.....

So this is the support to the conclusion I think.

-A

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 239
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:50 am

by delhiboy1979 » Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:02 am
Hmm..abhi75..good point there. I am confused now. can we have the OA please.

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 107
Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:09 pm
GMAT Score:710

by sumitkhurana » Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:57 am
OA is B.

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 100
Joined: Tue Aug 05, 2014 11:28 am

by mason77 » Sat May 14, 2016 1:35 am
I also will go with E