Columnist: Metro City has a lower percentage of residents with humanities degrees than any other city of comparable size in our nation. Nationwide, university graduates generally earn more than people who are not university graduates, but those with humanities degrees typically earn less than do graduates with degrees in other disciplines. So the main reason Metro City has higher income per capita than any other city of comparable size in our nation must be its low percentage of residents with humanities degrees.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the columnist's argument?
A. Metro City residents with humanities degrees have higher income per capita than do people with humanities degrees in any other city of comparable size in the nation.
B. The percentage of residents with university degrees is lower in Metro City than in any other city of comparable size in the nation.
C. Nationwide, university graduates without humanities degrees typically earn more than do individuals without university degrees.
D. Metro City residents with degrees outside the humanities have per capita income no higher than the per capita income of such residents of other cities of comparable size in the nation.
E. In Metro City, a lower proportion of university graduates have humanities degrees than in any other city of comparable size in the nation.
OA D
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Columnist: Metro City has a lower percentage of residents
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The key is the to find the conclusion here -
"So the main reason Metro City has higher income per capita than any other city of comparable size in our nation must be its low percentage of residents with humanities degrees"
Sentences that begin with "So" and contain words like "must" indicate the mood of the author, hence the conclusion.
The key evidence used by author here is - earnings of humanities graduates.
We have to strengthen the evidence, somehow.
We can use outside information as this is a strengthen question type.
Note the assumption author makes- Other degree residents earn more in this city than in any other city.
It could be weakened by saying they don't, As this is An assumption only.
A. Metro City residents with humanities degrees have higher income per capita than do people with humanities degrees in any other city of comparable size in the nation.
Remove, we are looking for other degrees, weakens the conclusion
B. The percentage of residents with university degrees is lower in Metro City than in any other city of comparable size in the nation.
Remove weakens the conclusion
C. Nationwide, university graduates without humanities degrees typically earn more than do individuals without university degrees.
Remove, weakens the conclusion
D. Metro City residents with degrees outside the humanities have per capita income no higher than the per capita income of such residents of other cities of comparable size in the nation.
Best of the lot as it helps the evidence. It clarifies the assumption that could be weakened.
Hence it strengthens the conclusion more than any other Option mentioned here
E. In Metro City, a lower proportion of university graduates have humanities degrees than in any other city of comparable size in the nation.
Remove, not really helpful in anything as it states the prompt.
OA D
"So the main reason Metro City has higher income per capita than any other city of comparable size in our nation must be its low percentage of residents with humanities degrees"
Sentences that begin with "So" and contain words like "must" indicate the mood of the author, hence the conclusion.
The key evidence used by author here is - earnings of humanities graduates.
We have to strengthen the evidence, somehow.
We can use outside information as this is a strengthen question type.
Note the assumption author makes- Other degree residents earn more in this city than in any other city.
It could be weakened by saying they don't, As this is An assumption only.
A. Metro City residents with humanities degrees have higher income per capita than do people with humanities degrees in any other city of comparable size in the nation.
Remove, we are looking for other degrees, weakens the conclusion
B. The percentage of residents with university degrees is lower in Metro City than in any other city of comparable size in the nation.
Remove weakens the conclusion
C. Nationwide, university graduates without humanities degrees typically earn more than do individuals without university degrees.
Remove, weakens the conclusion
D. Metro City residents with degrees outside the humanities have per capita income no higher than the per capita income of such residents of other cities of comparable size in the nation.
Best of the lot as it helps the evidence. It clarifies the assumption that could be weakened.
Hence it strengthens the conclusion more than any other Option mentioned here
E. In Metro City, a lower proportion of university graduates have humanities degrees than in any other city of comparable size in the nation.
Remove, not really helpful in anything as it states the prompt.
OA D
