Advisor: The city of Benzaria should discontinue the requirement from ...
Advisor: The city of Benzaria should discontinue the requirement from all schools to provide video recordings of classroom sessions to the students. The cost implications to maintain such a facility are quite significant for the schools, and the benefit is non-existent as can be seen from the fact that since the implementation of the plan, the difference in the test scores of students in Benzaria and those of students in Karamal has not come down even though Karamal has not implemented this program.
Critic: I disagree as the test scores in Karamal have improved. The implementation of the program in Benzaria has forced the government in Karamal to maintain better school standards in order to compete with Benzaria for federal government funds, the allocation of which is determined by average student test scores in the city.
Which of the following statements is an assumption underlying the critic’s argument?
Argument Analysis
Pre-Thinking
Conclusion Clarification
We are given two conclusions in the argument. The question stem asks us to find the assumption in the critic’s argument. The critic disagrees with the advisor’s conclusion. Therefore, the critic concludes that Benzaria should continue RVR.
Pre-Thinking Approach
To pre-think assumptions, we will falsify the critic’s conclusion or look for scenarios under which it is no longer valid even when the given premises are true.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.
Please note that the critic’s opinion goes against the advisor’s. Therefore, let’s understand the advisor’s opinion fully.
Linkage #1: Difference in the test scores of Benzaria and Karamal hasn’t reduced
What if TS in both B and K have improved? For example, it is possible that the average test scores in Benzaria were at 50% and those in Karamal at 80%. The difference is that of 30%. However, because of the institution of the RVR, the test scores in Benzaria have risen to 60% and incidentally, in Karamal to 90%. Now, even though the difference hasn’t come down, the test scores in Benzaria have improved. So the advisor cannot conclude that benefit from RVR is non-existent.
- Advisor’s Assumption: Test-scores in both Benzaria and Karamal haven’t improved.
Keeping in mind the above understanding, let’s take a look at the critic’s argument.
Linkage #3: Implementation of RVR in B has led to government of K maintaining better school standards.
From the critic’s argument, we can understand that the critic is attributing the lack of decrease in the difference of the test scores of the two cities to the improved test scores of Karamal. However, what if the better school standards in Karamal due to RVR in Benzaria haven’t positively impacted the test scores? If they haven’t, then the critic can’t draw a link between the two and conclude that there is some benefit from RVR or that RVR should continue.
- Assumption 1: Better school standards in Karamal have impacted the test scores positively.
With this understanding in mind, let’s take a look at the option statements.
Answer Choices
A
The better school standards in the city of Karamal have led to better test scores for its students.
Correct
This choice is written along the lines of our pre-thinking per Linkage #3, Assumption 1.
B
The requirement of recording classroom sessions has led schools in Benzaria to hire better quality instructors.
Incorrect - Not a must be true
This is not a must-be-true statement for the critic’s conclusion to hold. RVR could be beneficial even if better quality instructors haven’t been hired.
C
Test scores are not the only way to compare student performance across different schools.
Incorrect - Opposite
This option weakens the critic’s conclusion by undermining the importance of test scores.
D
Student test scores in Benzaria cannot be increased significantly without the requirement on the schools to record classroom sessions.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
We aren’t concerned with whether TS can be improved otherwise or not. We are only looking at whether RVR is beneficial for TS or not.
E
Student attendance in the classrooms in Benzaria hasn’t decreased after the introduction of the requirement to record classroom sessions.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
This is not relevant as the passage doesn’t provide any link between attendance and TS.