Confusing- Help!!

This topic has expert replies
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 351
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:25 pm
Thanked: 57 times
Followed by:4 members

Confusing- Help!!

by akhilsuhag » Fri Jul 29, 2011 6:38 am
Raul: The disturbing reality is that 85 percent of individuals now report that they know at least one individual who has spent at least one year in prison.

Stefano: But suppose that any given person knows about 40 other people. If about 5 percent of the population, or about one out of every 20 individuals, has spent at least one year in prison, then any given person probably knows multiple people who have been imprisoned for at least one year.

Stefano's argument relies on the assumption that ____.


(A) for the population in question, reasonable rates of imprisonment with one-year sentences are not generally exceeded your answer

(B) individuals who have never been imprisoned for one year or longer do not associate only with other individuals who have never been imprisoned for one year or longer correct

(C) at least 85 percent of the population in question is always comprised of people who know at least one person who has been imprisoned for at least one year

(D) Raul is not intentionally manipulating the numbers he uses to support his assertion

(E) first-hand knowledge of the prison system motivates individuals to stay out of prison more than do statistics about the percentage of the population that has been imprisoned for at least one year
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1035
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2010 11:13 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 474 times
Followed by:365 members

by VivianKerr » Fri Jul 29, 2011 7:37 am
Conclusion: Any given person probably knows MULTIPLE people who were in prison 1+ years.

Evidence: 5% of population has spent 1+ years in prison (1/20 people). 85% of people say they know at least 1.

Assumption: Ex-cons don't only know other ex-cons; people w/no record don't only know people w/no record.

Notice how Stefano's argument relies on WHO "any given person" knows. That must be part of the correct answer.
Vivian Kerr
GMAT Rockstar, Tutor
https://www.GMATrockstar.com
https://www.yelp.com/biz/gmat-rockstar-los-angeles

Former Kaplan and Grockit instructor, freelance GMAT content creator, now offering affordable, effective, Skype-tutoring for the GMAT at $150/hr. Contact: [email protected]

Thank you for all the "thanks" and "follows"! :-)

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 407
Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2011 9:19 am
Thanked: 25 times
Followed by:7 members

by Ozlemg » Sat Jul 30, 2011 12:46 pm
SO it is B....
The more you suffer before the test, the less you will do so in the test! :)

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 1035
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2010 11:13 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 474 times
Followed by:365 members

by VivianKerr » Mon Aug 01, 2011 6:11 am
Yes, B is correct.
Vivian Kerr
GMAT Rockstar, Tutor
https://www.GMATrockstar.com
https://www.yelp.com/biz/gmat-rockstar-los-angeles

Former Kaplan and Grockit instructor, freelance GMAT content creator, now offering affordable, effective, Skype-tutoring for the GMAT at $150/hr. Contact: [email protected]

Thank you for all the "thanks" and "follows"! :-)

Legendary Member
Posts: 627
Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:12 am
Thanked: 4 times
Followed by:1 members

by mankey » Sun Oct 16, 2011 8:40 am
This one is still not clear. Please explain.

Thanks
Mankey

Legendary Member
Posts: 2789
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:19 am
Location: Chennai, India
Thanked: 206 times
Followed by:43 members
GMAT Score:640

by GmatKiss » Sun Oct 16, 2011 1:05 pm
Came down to B and D, How is B the winner?