School official: The rate of childhood obesity in Paceville

[BTGmoderatorDC]

School official: The rate of childhood obesity in Paceville has decreased by 50% in the last five years, whereas the rate of childhood obesity in Aratown has increased by 50% in the same time period. Children in the town of Paceville are obviously much less likely to be obese than are children in Aratown.

This argument fails to consider which of the following questions?


A. How many children were obese in Paceville and Aratown five years ago?

B. Were rates of childhood obesity in Paceville higher than those in Aratown five years ago?

C. Has there been any migration between Paceville and Aratown in the last five years?

D. What were the rates of childhood obesity in Paceville and Aratown five years ago?

E. What percent of children are likely to remain obese for five years or more?

OA D

Source: Veritas Prep

[deloitte247]

We need to find a vital point that seems to have been omitted in the argument.
Premise:
- In the last 5 years, the rate of childhood obesity in Paceville has decreased by 50%.
- It increased by 50% in Aratown

OPTION A - INCORRECT
The argument devised this through the use of percentage to quantify the number of children obese in both towns five years ago.

OPTION B - INCORRECT
The answer to this question has been provided in the argument by claiming that Paceville's rate of child obesity decreased by 50%.

OPTION C - INCORRECT
This doesn't seem like something the argument failed to consider. The argument made no reference to migration between the two towns in question.

OPTION D - CORRECT
It is important to know whether the rate of child obesity increased or reduced in the two towns, by stating what the rate was five years ago, which the argument obviously omitted.

OPTION E - INCORRECT
The argument is not concerned about the percentage of children who will remain obese for the next five years or more.