Monday, December 15, 2008

CR Question 44

The fact that several of the largest senior citizens’ organizations are constituted almost exclusively of middle-class elderly people has led critics to question the seriousness of those organizations’ commitment to speaking out on behalf of the needs of economically disadvantaged elderly people.

Which of the following generalizations, if true, would help to substantiate the criticism implicit in the statement above?

(A) The ideology of an organization tends reflect the traditional political climate of its locale.

(B) The needs of disadvantaged elderly people differ in some ways from those of other disadvantaged groups within contemporary society.

(C) Organized groups are better able to publicize their problems and seek redress than individuals acting alone.

(D) Middle-class elderly people are more likely to join organizations than are economically disadvantaged elderly people.

(E) People usually join organizations whose purpose is to further the economic, political, or social interests of their members


Answer: E

OA - E

1st Premise: Organizations consist of more elderly middle class citizens
2nd Premise: Organizations' are committed to speak out on behalf of the needs of economically disadvantaged elderly people.

Conclusion: If organization doesn't speaks out on behalf of the needs of economically disadvantaged elderly people then its members are probably not economically disadvantaged

Option strengthening the conclusion

E - People usually join organizations whose purpose is to further the
economic, political, or social interests of their members => least bothered about the economically disadvantaged people, so will not speak out for them.. just the interest of middle class elderly reigns

(A) The ideology of an organization tends reflect the traditional political climate of its locale. - political climate ?? irrelevant

(B) The needs of disadvantaged elderly people differ in some ways from those of other disadvantaged groups within contemporary society. - out of scope - not interested in other disadvantaged groups

(C) Organized groups are better able to publicize their problems and seek redress than individuals acting alone. - is this affecting our conclusion in any way ? No - irrelevant

(D) Middle-class elderly people are more likely to join organizations than are economically disadvantaged elderly people. - more likely to join ?? - may be - but is this affecting our conclusion in any way? No - irrelevant