Largest senior citizens’ organizations

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The fact that several of the largest senior citizens’ organizations are constituted almost exclusively of middle-class elderly people has led critics to question the seriousness of those organizations’ commitment to speaking out on behalf of the needs of economically disadvantaged elderly people.
Which of the following generalizations, if true, would help to substantiate the criticism implicit in the statement above?
(A) The ideology of an organization tends reflect the traditional political climate of its locale.
(B) The needs of disadvantaged elderly people differ in some ways from those of other disadvantaged groups within contemporary society.
(C) Organized groups are better able to publicize their problems and seek redress than individuals acting alone.
(D) Middle-class elderly people are more likely to join organizations than are economically disadvantaged elderly people.
(E) People usually join organizations whose purpose is to further the economic, political, or social interests of their members.

OA - E Pls explain why not D
Isn't the question asking to weaken the argument? --> Which of the following generalizations, if true, would help to substantiate the criticism implicit in the statement above?
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by ketkoag » Sun May 31, 2009 10:07 am
no, the question is asking to strengthen the argument....:)

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by crackgmat007 » Sun May 31, 2009 12:45 pm
I dont understand. Here, critics are saying something. If we need to substantiate the criticism (what critics say), I was thinking D does the job.

Looks like I am missing the point. Can anyone explain? tx.

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by PAB2706 » Sun May 31, 2009 11:01 pm
even i wud like some help out here...

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by sudeep_ar » Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:19 am
We need to substantiate (strengthen) the criticism.

D) Middle-class elderly people are more likely to join organizations than are economically disadvantaged elderly people.


here it just imply that disadvantaged elderly people are not likely to join any organization.
==> Does it imply that the organizations with middle class elderly people are not committed(serious) about the issues of disadvantaged elderly people?
No ==> so its not the answer as not supporting/strengthening the criticism.

(E) People usually join organizations whose purpose is to further the economic, political, or social interests of their members.

here it implies that people in general join the organizations where they get their interests served.
==> what we can we understand from it?
As there is a fact given
The fact that several of the largest senior citizens’ organizations are constituted almost exclusively of middle-class elderly people
We can conclude that as largest senior citizens' organizations are not joined by disadvantaged elderly people, these organizations don't serve them.
hence, E is strengthening the criticism and is the answer.

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Re: Largest senior citizens’ organizations

by vinaynp » Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:32 am
crackgmat007 wrote:The fact that several of the largest senior citizens’ organizations are constituted almost exclusively of middle-class elderly people has led critics to question the seriousness of those organizations’ commitment to speaking out on behalf of the needs of economically disadvantaged elderly people.
Which of the following generalizations, if true, would help to substantiate the criticism implicit in the statement above?
(A) The ideology of an organization tends reflect the traditional political climate of its locale.
(B) The needs of disadvantaged elderly people differ in some ways from those of other disadvantaged groups within contemporary society.
(C) Organized groups are better able to publicize their problems and seek redress than individuals acting alone.
(D) Middle-class elderly people are more likely to join organizations than are economically disadvantaged elderly people.
(E) People usually join organizations whose purpose is to further the economic, political, or social interests of their members.

OA - E Pls explain why not D
Isn't the question asking to weaken the argument? --> Which of the following generalizations, if true, would help to substantiate the criticism implicit in the statement above?
Largest senior citizens’ organizations do not represent economically disadvantaged elderly people. We need to strengthen the above statement.

E) by POE.

A) Out of scope.
B) Comparing two disadvantaged group. Hence, not the answer.
C) Additional Information
D) Additional Information. It doesn't help to strengthen.

P.S: I got the answer as D) in my first try. A second read helped!!!

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by nicolette » Sun May 15, 2016 2:51 pm
So I feel D is a better option