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- Thu Mar 04, 2021 3:05 pm
#84871
Complete Question Explanation
Strengthen/Support—Numbers and Percentages. The correct answer choice is (C)
This problem makes the classic mistake of assuming that a larger
percentage translates into a greater number (Misconception #6). According
to the argument, because the Chef’s Union requested a 10% raise and the
Hotel Manager’s Union requested only an 8% raise, the Chef’s Union
must have asked for more money than the Hotel Manager’s Union. But,
the argument never tells us how much the average member of each union
makes, so the conclusion cannot be drawn with certainty, as shown by the
following example: Even though the Chef’s Union has asked for a greater percentage raise
than the Hotel Manager’s Union, it is still possible that the actual dollar
amount of the Hotel Manager’s Union request is greater. In this case,
omitting the average current salary made by each member is tantamount
to omitting the total amount made by the members, and thus, even
though this problem uses averages, it trades on the mistake behind all the
misconceptions discussed at the beginning of this chapter. To strengthen
the argument, you must find an answer that indicates that the Chef’s Union
has a wage that is equal to or greater than the wage of the Hotel Manager’s
Union (the wage could also be very slightly below that of the Hotel
Manager’s Union).
Answer choice (A): Because the conclusion is specific about the average
dollar amount requested, and an average can be calculated regardless
of how many members are in the union, this answer is irrelevant to the
argument.
Answer choice (B): The argument focuses on the size of each Union’s
raise request. Whether each union will receive the request is not at issue,
and thus this answer is incorrect.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer. As discussed above, an
answer that indicates that the Chef’s Union has a wage that is equal to
or greater than the wage of the Hotel Manager’s Union would strengthen
the argument. This is the answer you should look for when you read the
question stem, and you should attempt to accelerate through the answer
choices to find this answer.
Answer choice (D): This answer refers to the raises given out last year.
Unfortunately, this fails to address the current salaries of the union
members.
Answer choice (E): Like answer choice (D), this answer addresses
previous raises, which does not tell us about current salaries.
Strengthen/Support—Numbers and Percentages. The correct answer choice is (C)
This problem makes the classic mistake of assuming that a larger
percentage translates into a greater number (Misconception #6). According
to the argument, because the Chef’s Union requested a 10% raise and the
Hotel Manager’s Union requested only an 8% raise, the Chef’s Union
must have asked for more money than the Hotel Manager’s Union. But,
the argument never tells us how much the average member of each union
makes, so the conclusion cannot be drawn with certainty, as shown by the
following example: Even though the Chef’s Union has asked for a greater percentage raise
than the Hotel Manager’s Union, it is still possible that the actual dollar
amount of the Hotel Manager’s Union request is greater. In this case,
omitting the average current salary made by each member is tantamount
to omitting the total amount made by the members, and thus, even
though this problem uses averages, it trades on the mistake behind all the
misconceptions discussed at the beginning of this chapter. To strengthen
the argument, you must find an answer that indicates that the Chef’s Union
has a wage that is equal to or greater than the wage of the Hotel Manager’s
Union (the wage could also be very slightly below that of the Hotel
Manager’s Union).
Answer choice (A): Because the conclusion is specific about the average
dollar amount requested, and an average can be calculated regardless
of how many members are in the union, this answer is irrelevant to the
argument.
Answer choice (B): The argument focuses on the size of each Union’s
raise request. Whether each union will receive the request is not at issue,
and thus this answer is incorrect.
Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer. As discussed above, an
answer that indicates that the Chef’s Union has a wage that is equal to
or greater than the wage of the Hotel Manager’s Union would strengthen
the argument. This is the answer you should look for when you read the
question stem, and you should attempt to accelerate through the answer
choices to find this answer.
Answer choice (D): This answer refers to the raises given out last year.
Unfortunately, this fails to address the current salaries of the union
members.
Answer choice (E): Like answer choice (D), this answer addresses
previous raises, which does not tell us about current salaries.
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