Political Advertisement: Mayor Delmont's critics complain about the jobs that were lost in the city under Delmont's leadership. Yet the fact is that not only were more jobs created than were eliminated, but the average pay for these new jobs has been higher than the average pay for jobs citywide every year since Delmont took office. So there can be no question that throughout Delmont's tenure the average paycheck in this city has been getting steadily bigger.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument in the advertisement?
(A) The average pay for jobs created in the city during the past three years was higher than the average pay for jobs created in the city earlier in Mayor Delmont's tenure.
(B) Average pay in the city was at a ten-year low when Mayor Delmont took office.
(C) Some of the jobs created in the city during Mayor Delmont's tenure have in the meantime been eliminated again.
(D) The average pay for jobs eliminated in the city during Mayor Delmont's tenure has been roughly equal every year to the average pay for jobs citywide.
(E) The average pay for jobs in the city is currently higher than it is for jobs in the suburbs surrounding the city.
Let’s first understand the details of the argument in the political Advertisement:
Mayor Delmont's critics complain about the jobs that were lost in the city under Delmont's leadership.
Yet the fact is- more jobs were created than were eliminated
3) the average pay for these new jobs has been higher than the average pay for jobs citywide every year since Delmont took office.
Conclusion
Throughout Delmont's tenure the average paycheck in this city has been getting steadily bigger.
We need to find an option that will add to/ strengthen the conclusion.
Option A- The average pay for jobs created in the city during the past three years was higher than the average pay for jobs created in the city earlier in Mayor Delmont's tenure.
Option A compares the average pay for jobs created during the past three years with the average pay for jobs created in the city earlier in Mayor Delmont's tenure. The conclusion talks about the average paycheck throughout Delmont’s tenure in the city. To strengthen the conclusion, we need to know the overall average. This would also require a comparison with the average pay for jobs that were eliminated during Delmont’s tenure.
Eliminate option A
Option B- Average pay in the city was at a ten-year low when Mayor Delmont took office.
This does not give us information as to whether the average paycheck throughout Delmont’s tenure in the city has been getting bigger or not- eliminate
Option C- Some of the jobs created in the city during Mayor Delmont's tenure have in the meantime been eliminated again.
But what we need to find out is whether the average paycheck throughout Delmont’s tenure in the city has been getting bigger or not- eliminate option C
Option D- The average pay for jobs eliminated in the city during Mayor Delmont's tenure has been roughly equal every year to the average pay for jobs citywide.
The argument states that the average pay for these new jobs, which have been created, has been higher than the average pay for jobs citywide every year since Delmont took office.
To simplify it,
The average pay for jobs eliminated = the average pay for jobs citywide < the average pay for new jobs
This strengthens the conclusion and is hence the right answer.
Option E- The average pay for jobs in the city is currently higher than it is for jobs in the suburbs surrounding the city.
Option E compares the average pay for jobs in the city with the average pay for jobs in suburbs- This is irrelevant to the argument and is hence eliminated.