Demographers doing research for an international economics newsletter claim that the average percapita income in the country of Kuptala is substantially lower than that in the country of Bahlton.They also claim, however, that whereas poverty is relatively rare in Kuptala, over half the population of Bahlton lives in extreme poverty. At least one of the demographers’ claims must, therefore, be wrong.
The argument above is most vulnerable to which of the following criticisms?
(A) It rejects an empirical claim about the average per capita incomes in the two countries without making any attempt to discredit that claim by offering additional economic evidence.
(B) It treats the vague term “poverty†as though it had a precise and universally accepted meaning.
(C) It overlooks the possibility that the number of people in the two countries who live in poverty could be the same even though the percentages of the two populations that live in poverty differ markedly.
(D) It fails to show that wealth and poverty have the same social significance in Kuptala as in Bahlton.
(E) It does not consider the possibility that incomes in Kuptala, unlike those in Bahlton, might all be very close to the country’s average per capita income.
E it is…
Kuptala has incomes close to the average line ie country’s average income…whereas its not the case with Bahton…ie they have at extremeties…extremely poor and extremely rich, average still lower than that of Kuptala
Ans is E
I would give the same reason ie. reason given by sandeep
I disagree with your comments, A nation might have incomes that are all close to the per capita income, but that income might still be below the poverty line.
I believe the answer is B, the most important thing here is that the definition of poverty varies between the two countries. average per capita income may be much lower, but the cost of food, goods, healthcare might also be much lower
B
I think its C… there is only a comparision of percentages (over half, etc.)
The possibility that either country could be more populous that the other is overlooked.
E
Although, poverty is not defined in the argument, but we can assume that this scale is same for both country as the same demographers are doing the survey………….so, B can be ignored.
Also, per capita income depends on all rich & poor. But C is not talking about poor…
So, I think E is the right answer..
Can someone please tell me how can I find the correct answer to all these questions?
I will also go with E
Dont worry, its E
I guess its from Kaplan
it’s asking about “the vulnerability” of the argument. And the argument includes a disagreement to the above premises. Actually “E” supports the disagreement that the authors state. That would strength the argument.
To me, answer “A” hits to the vulnerability of the argument. They are rejecting the premises, and maybe they should not.
To Avion:
i think E is correct.
The argument is that the two statements cannot be correct together.
E makes that argument wrong because its stating that the incomes of Bahlton is distributed widely as compared to Kuptala. So, it states that Bahlton can be making more money on an average but still have 50% of the people live below poverty. (I guess India is a pretty close example of it)
I think its C, as it objectively questions authors conclusion that , one of the statements should be wrong.
Though the average income is lower for Kuptala, it could be that income is more averaged out in Kuptala, that means if you take a standard deviation Bahlton has a higher SD than Kuptala.
where can we get the answer?
definitely E
Not C because it is talkininterms of percentage: half the population (50%)
Not B….does not signify anything
E!
E
It is E….
E
It’s B
though E too sounds valid, I think it’s more important to define poverty in the claims before calling them wrong.
Admin, can you please post the answer since there seems to be ambiguity?
e.