MCAT Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills Question 17: Answer and Explanation

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Test Information

Question: 17

1. Which of the following would specifically bolster the author's primary line of argumentation?

I. Evidence that coordination among capitalists in the 1970s directly contributed to the decline of labor unions in the 1980s

II. Findings demonstrating that current levels of inequality have eclipsed the historical records set in the 1920s

III. A study showing that the rate of polarization of wealth has increased since the global financial crisis of 2007–8

  • A. I only
  • B. I and II only
  • C. II and III only
  • D. I, II, and III

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

Following the Plan outlined previously, start with numeral III, A study showing that the rate of polarization of wealth has increased since the global financial crisis of 2007–8. While such evidence would support the claim that inequality is continuing to grow, this is precisely what the author suggested was uninteresting, definitely not the author's primary line of argument. To support the main argument, this item would need to offer some indication that decisions by socioeconomic elites caused this accelerating growth, but the mere mention of the financial crisis is insufficient to establish that.

Given that numeral III is false, both (C) and (D) are ruled out, and it can be inferred that I is true. Looking at II, Findings demonstrating that current levels of inequality have eclipsed the historical records set in the 1920s, it is readily apparent that this is more support for inequality's existence and growth, not for the cause proposed by the author. Numeral II is thus false for roughly the same reason that III is, and choice (B) can also be eliminated.

The divide and conquer approach revealed that choice (A) is correct after evaluating only two of the numerals. Though you would want to select (A) on Test Day without further delay, we can confirm that only I is true by considering the impact of the sentence Evidence that coordination among capitalists in the 1970s directly contributed to the decline of labor unions in the 1980s. This points to another paragraph, P6, where the author states that capitalist mobilization—not coincidentally—shortly precedes the extensive disempowerment of unions in and around the 1980s and cites the Powell Memorandum. Numeral I would definitely help to support the author's account of how inequality was caused to increase in the 1980s, and would thus bolster the primary argument.

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