Political Advertisement: Mayor Delmont's Critics Complain About the Jobs

Question: 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.

Answer: D
Explanation: This is a GMAT critical reasoning argument reasoning type question. We have to select the option that does the least to undermine what the author has said for the similarities given in the passage.

Let’s go through each option individually and find the one that fits the best.

(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.
Incorrect.
Option A implies that the average paycheck of Delmont has steadily become bigger. For the first three years, Delmont has paid very less. This also refers to the fact that Delmont paid less than people who earned more before he took office.

(B) Average pay in the city was at a ten-year low when Mayor Delmont took office.
Incorrect.
Option B does not lead to anything. The statement implies that Delmont raised their pay after he took office.

(C) Some of the jobs created in the city during Mayor Delmont's tenure have in the meantime been eliminated again.
Incorrect.
Option C refers to Delmont creating jobs and then reducing jobs with a higher pay scale. Hence the average pay remained the same.

(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.
Correct.
Option D refers to Delmont reducing jobs that had higher payscale. So that they can keep the average payscale same. This also refers to that new higher paying jobs were pushing the city average up.

(E) The average pay for jobs in the city is currently higher than it is for jobs in the suburbs surrounding the city.
Irrelevant.
Option E is incorrect as it states about suburbs and cities that have nothing in common.

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