Each Year, Carroll County Gives an Award to the Town GMAT Critical Reasoning

Question: Each year, Carroll County gives an award to the town that has most increased the area of its green space in the past 12 months. To earn the zoning designation “green space,” a lot must produce less carbon than it absorbs. Examples of land that qualifies as green space include parks, cemeteries, office buildings with highly efficient cooling systems, and homes with large gardens. 55% of the town of Arlington is designated as green space, while 45% of Barrington is designated as green space. Arlington officials have passed an ordinance declaring that any new office buildings built in Arlington in the next 12 months must have highly efficient cooling systems. Barrington officials have responded with a plan to open several new parks in the next 12 months. Barrington officials are confident that they will be ranked ahead of Arlington in the competition for the Carroll County award.

Which of the following, if true, would most justify the officials’ confidence that Barrington will beat Arlington in the award rankings?

1. Barrington’s new parks will increase its green space by 30%, while Arlington’s new office buildings will increase its green space by only 15%.
2. Arlington’s additional green space will not exceed 80% of Barrington’s additional green space.
3. Arlington’s new office buildings will constitute 10% of its existing green space, while Barrington’s new parks will constitute 20% of its existing green space.
4. The area of Arlington is no larger than that of Barrington.
5. Barrington’s new parks will bring its percentage of green space to 65%, while Arlington’s new office buildings will bring its percentage of green space to only 60%.

“Each Year, Carroll County Gives an Award to the Town that has Most Increased the Area of its Green Space in the Past 12 Months.” - this is a GMAT Critical question. This particular GMAT Critical Reasoning topic has been taken from the book ‘Manhattan Prep GMAT Critical Reasoning 6th Edition’. This particular topic is the Assumption and conclusion type of question. For this type, the candidates need to provide an assumption that supports the conclusion provided in the passage. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. Critical reasoning in GMAT requires candidates to find the strengths and weaknesses of the argument, or find the logical flaw in the argument.  The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.

Answer: B
Explanation:
We need to find the appropriate option that justifies the confidence that Barrington will beat Arlington in the award rankings. This is a GMAT verbal critical reasoning question. Let us check each option one by one. 
Carroll County gives an award to the town that has most increased the area of its green space in the past 12 months. Let us check each option one by one:

Option A: Incorrect.
- This is incorrect. The increase in percentage doesn't mean the overall new area of green space will be greater. We do not get the already existing area that were present. If Barrington’s new parks were much lesser than Arlington’s new office, the 30% increase will not affect. This is because Arlington’s new office is already huge. Barrington’s will not be able to surpass them.

Option B: Correct.
- This seems the correct option. The sentence says "additional" green space. We can let go of  the previous space since this is additional. This option states that Arlington’s additional green space will not exceed 80% of Barrington’s additional green space. Hence, the increase will be lower for Arlington than for Barrington. This proves that the statement is correct. 

Option C: Incorrect.
- We need the overall green area and not just the landfill space. This talks about the existing green space but not the overall green space.

Option D: Incorrect.
- The award is counted on the area of green space. It is not on the larger area itself. This is also incorrect.

Option A: Incorrect.
- The increase in percentage doesn't mean the overall new area of green space will be greater. Hence, this option does not justify the statement. 

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