Analyst: The Mayor’s petition to revise existing pension systems...
Pre-Thinking
Conclusion Clarification
The conclusion says that the fears of LU leaders are baseless. This means that the author concludes that the revision of PS won’t lead to reduced pensions for RW.
Pre-Thinking Approach
To pre-think assumptions, we will falsify the conclusion or look for scenarios under which it is no longer valid even when the given premises are true. The assumption then will be that such conditions don’t exist.
Linkage #1: Pension amounts already guaranteed to GW
What if, already guaranteed amounts can still change? Let’s say the government which promised these amounts has changed. The new government may not have the obligation to keep the promises made earlier.
Assumption 1: Guaranteed pension amounts can’t change.
Also, the conclusion here discards the comparison with the pay scales of GW because the amounts in case of RW are guaranteed. So, the author is assuming that:
Assumption 2: Pay scales of GW that are reduced under recession aren’t guaranteed.
With this understanding in mind, let’s take a look at the option statements.
Answer Choices
A
Some benefits for government employees will continue regardless of the actual amount of pension that is paid to them.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
The argument is only concerned with pension amounts, not other benefits.
B
The union leaders’ protests are a result of expectations from pensioners that their interests will be protected by the labor unions.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
Reasons behind the union leaders’ protests are irrelevant.
C
A current economic downturn is the reason for the Mayor’s decision to revise the city’s existing pension system.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
The reference to the revisions of the pay scales of GW in times of recession is only an example. It is not a must that the reason behind this revision of PS is the same.
D
The pay scales of government workers that are reduced in times of economic downturns are not already guaranteed by the government.
Correct
This choice is written along the lines of our pre-thinking per Linkage #1, Assumption 2.
E
Revisions of pension systems have not led to disadvantages for pensioners in the past.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
We aren’t concerned with the past. The argument is about the mayor’s plan to revise the PS at present.