Critical Reasoning

The mayor's advisers are attempting to alter the widespread public belief that the mayor's restructuring of the city's taxation system is to blame for the poor business climate in the city. They say that the poor business climate is part of a national phenomenon and that the mayor is only blamed because of a coincidence in time: the business climate happened to get worse shortly following the tax restructuring.

Which of the following, if true, would cast the most serious doubt on the adviser's claim about the reason that the tax restructuring is blamed for the poor business climate?

A)There was a noticeable deterioration of the city's public transportation system immediately following the tax restructuring but the public drew no connection between the two events.

B)When the mayor was elected, by a sizeable majority, he had clearly enunciated his intention to restructure the city's taxation system.

C)Most economists agree that the effects of the tax restructuring on the city's business environment would not be immediately obvious, but would take at least a year to make themselves felt.

D)Despite the nationwide poor business environment, similar tax restructuring is being planned in cities of similar size throughout the country.

E)While the public generally objects to anything perceived to be likely to increase their taxes, they are just as quick to object to any reduction in the services supported by tax revenues

OA after some discussion !

Updated : OA : A

sohrabkalra wrote:The mayor's advisers are attempting to alter the widespread public belief that the mayor's restructuring of the city's taxation system is to blame for the poor business climate in the city. They say that the poor business climate is part of a national phenomenon and that the mayor is only blamed because of a coincidence in time: the business climate happened to get worse shortly following the tax restructuring.

Which of the following, if true, would cast the most serious doubt on the adviser's claim about the reason that the tax restructuring is blamed for the poor business climate?

A)There was a noticeable deterioration of the city's public transportation system immediately following the tax restructuring but the public drew no connection between the two events.

B)When the mayor was elected, by a sizeable majority, he had clearly enunciated his intention to restructure the city's taxation system.

C)Most economists agree that the effects of the tax restructuring on the city's business environment would not be immediately obvious, but would take at least a year to make themselves felt.

D)Despite the nationwide poor business environment, similar tax restructuring is being planned in cities of similar size throughout the country.

E)While the public generally objects to anything perceived to be likely to increase their taxes, they are just as quick to object to any reduction in the services supported by tax revenues

OA after some discussion !

First determine what is the mayor's claim as to why his tax plan is blamed.

His claim is that it is being blamed because of coincidence with a nationwide downturn.

Answer A: This calls in to doubt the mayor's claim, because city transportation is funded by local taxes. If the local tax restructuring is affecting city transportation, then it could follow that it is adversely affecting the business environment as well. However, the connection between city transportation and the local business climate is questionable. So this is not an obvious answer choice.

Answer B: This has nothing to do with his claim.

Answer C: This supports the mayor's claim. Since we know the business climate downturn occured shortly after local tax restructuring, then if the economic analysis shows it would take time for the affects to be seen, it only helps the mayor's argument.

Answer D: Planning in other cities doesn't affect the mayor's claim.

Answer E: This is extraneous information.


So I have to go with A, here. But, I don't think any of the answer choices are particularly good. What is the source of this question?

First determine what is the mayor's claim as to why his tax plan is blamed.

His claim is that it is being blamed because of coincidence with a nationwide downturn

Well lets see, the question says that

Which of the following, if true, would cast the most serious doubt on the adviser's claim about the reason that the tax restructuring is blamed for the poor business climate?

Now, the adviser is claiming two things
1)That Mayors restructuring of the taxation system is not to be blamed for poor business climate
2)That it is infact a part of national phenomenon and mayor is blamed only because of coincidence in time

Now lets look at the answer choices

A) he draws an analogy between taxation system reforms and X to conclude the same relationship between taxation system reforms and Y without providing any evidence that X and Y are similar to draw such an analogy

B)It does not affect any of the claims. if the question would have asked about what weakens PUBLIC's belief, i think this would have made the cut

C)This is an opposite answer, this strengthens his claim#1 by saying that if it had been because of tax restructuring, its effects would not be visible by now

D)This has no impact on claims

E)This again calls into question validity of publics beliefs but NOT advisers claims

So infact No option makes the cut according to me!

This is from a KAPLAN CAT![/quote]

I think, in this question conclusion is: "Public misintrepreted the sequence of events;"

Advisors Argument: Poor business climate and policy changes happened at the same time. ==> So poor business climate is the reason. ==> Public miss intrepreted the timing of the events;

Weaken argument: any statement that helps to prove that public did not missintrepret the events.

choice(A):

here was a noticeable deterioration of the city's public transportation system immediately following the tax restructuring but the public drew no connection between the two events.

This says--that public is aware of the effects of poor business climate, other wise they would have blamed mayor polices for this too. ==> public didn't misintrepret the timing.

Actually refer OG-12 #15 is along the lines of this problem.

i.e. Conservative group trying to change the long-standing image of Bats as frightening animals.