Teenagers are often priced out of the labor market....

Expert replies

S0laris: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 131; Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:02 am; Location: Azerbaijan/Baku; Thanked: 2 times

by S0laris » Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:29 am

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.

we are the champions !

Source: Beat The GMAT — Critical Reasoning | Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:29 am

Kunal_gmat: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 45; Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:59 am; Thanked: 2 times

by Kunal_gmat » Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:50 am

IMO B.
(A) seems to strengthen the argument. As the minimum wages increased, unemp. increased suggesting that minimum wages were the cause of the unemp.

(C) Appears disconnected to the argument
(D) Nothing in the passage talks about time frame, current or whatever, and mention of 1970s is not very useful
(E) WAS stuck between this one and (B). But, the argument tells us that the unemployment has risen, so occasional drops could be for some unknown factors and that too they(drop) contribute to a small section. In general there has been a rise.

Now let us go to (B)
(B) tells us that minimum wages were frozen in 1960s and yet there was an increase in unemployment. So minimum wages actually dropped, if you take inflation into account. Thus in a way, minimum wages dropped and yet unemployment increased => Lowering minimum wages may not be the solution. Experts chime in please.

mbadrew: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 198; Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:16 am; Location: San Francisco; Thanked: 14 times

by mbadrew » Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:47 pm

A--strengthens

B--this is the answer.

C--irrelevant to the topic.

D--strengthens

E--occasional decline, but otherwise a rise in unemployment level. This does not weaken the arguement.

B that's my final answer.

ashley.com: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 100; Joined: Tue Aug 05, 2014 4:32 am

by ashley.com » Sun May 15, 2016 3:25 am

Agree with you. My answer is B

graem83d: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 108; Joined: Tue Aug 05, 2014 3:00 am

by graem83d » Sun May 15, 2016 7:46 am

It seems to me that the right answer is B

GMAT Course Reviews

563 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (563 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review