Citizens in Country X are frequently complaining that lines in government offices are much longer now than they were 15

[BTGmoderatorDC]

Citizens in Country X are frequently complaining that lines in government offices are much longer now than they were 15 years ago. No real measure of the length of the lines in government offices in Country X 15 years ago or today exists, but the citizens' complaints are almost certainly exaggerated, if not altogether unwarranted. The number of government officials in Country X has quadrupled over the past 15 years whereas the number of citizens has only doubled.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A) The first is the argument's conclusion; the second is the premise on which this conclusion is based.
B) The first is evidence in favor of a certain position; the second is additional evidence that seems to contradict the first.
C) The first is the argument's conclusion; the second is evidence that seems to contradict this conclusion.
D) The first is a report of one side's opinion; the second is the opposite position.
E) The first is a premise; the second is another premise that contains information that sheds new light on the situation.


OA D

Source: Economist Gmat