#3 - Concept Reference, Must Be True, Author's Perspective

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

The correct answer choice is (A).

Answer choice (A): This is the correct answer choice.

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C):

Answer choice (D):

Answer choice (E):


This explanation is still in progress. Please post any questions below!

[rosiel]

Hi,

Would someone explain to me why answer choice (D) is wrong? Is it the use of present perfect tense, because what is described in the answer is simply something that could happen as explained in the passage, instead of something that has already happened? Or is it something else that makes this answer choice wrong? I think my confusion comes from a potentially inaccurate understanding of lines 58-66 in the passage. Are those lines referring to industrial unions only, or are they referring to industrial unions AND craft unions? Thanks!

[nicholaspavic]

Hi Rosie,

Yes, it sounds like you are keying in on the right concepts here with industrial vs craft unions and the of the present perfect tense in Answer Option (D). The line reference you make is specifically discussing industrial union workers and making a future prediction of the about the decrease in Black workers' wages in the event of implementation of right-to-work laws with language like "would" and "will." Note that the passage is implying that all industrial union wages will decrease in the event of the right-to-work laws but that Black workers will be especially negatively affected by the event.

Thus Answer (A) is the correct answer for this Must Be True question and may be traced directly back to lines 46-50 and its discussion of craft unions and their exclusion of Black workers.

Thanks for the great question and I hope this helps!

[biskam]

in lines 46-50 it says "although craft unionism increases the differential between the wages of white workers and black workers due to the traditional exclusion of minority workers from unions in the craft sectors of the labor market..."

How can we assume this means craft unions have been successful in ensuring wages have been higher for their members than for nonmembers?

[biskam]

I'm struggling to find the lines to support 3A... thank you!

[James Finch]

Hi Biksam,

Craft unions are a subgroup of unions, so what is true of unions generally should also hold true of craft unions. Lines 23-29 indicate that the strength ubiquity of unions within a state directly impacts wages within that state. Craft unions traditionally excluded Black workers, but for their (White) members, we can infer that wages were higher than for non-union workers in the same industry.

Hope this helps!

[sparrrkk_]

Hi,

I got this question wrong by choosing D instead of A, and wanted to review each answer choice to see if my reasoning for why its right or wrong is valid.

A - This is the correct answer because the passage discusses the "economic power of unions to raise wages".
B - The paragraph that discusses the effect of "right to work" legislation on minority workers doesn't state what actually happened but rather focuses on predictions. We cannot be sure that the number of minority workers joining craft unions has increased in states that haven't adopted "right to work" legislation, especially knowing that there is "traditional exclusion of minority workers from unions in the craft sectors of the labor market". Therefore, this is wrong.
C - This is incorrect because we cannot assume anything about workers in craft unions and industrial unions generally as the passage only discusses minority workers in the unions.
D - This is incorrect for the same reason as B, as the passage discusses what possibly could happen with "right to work" legislation in craft unions and industrial unions. We cannot be sure about what actually happened. Furthermore, we cannot be sure about workers generally, when it discusses the effects on minority workers specifically. If anything, "right to work" legislation should affect both craft unions and industrial unions negatively.
E - Labor shortages are only mentioned in relation to black workers in "right to work" states. Thus, it is incorrect as it cannot be applied to workers in craft unions vs. workers in industrial unions.

Some of the answer choices state comparisons between workers in craft unions vs. workers in industrial unions, although the passage only compares minority workers in both. So, much of the answer choices cannot be assumed.

This is my first time seeing reasoning based on what actually happened vs. hypothetical/future/possibility. Is this a common thing in RC? Should I be on the look-out for this?

Thanks!

[Robert Carroll]

spark,

I think there's a lot in what you say that's right. Can I offer my own reasons for all the wrong answers, and you can compare?

Of course answer choice (A) is right for the reasons you say.

Answer choice (B) is wrong because it makes a claim about numbers of minorities joining unions. We know from the passage that it would probably be beneficial for a minority to join a union, but we don't know what numbers have actually joined.

Answer choice (C) is wrong because (as you point out) the comparison between types of unions in this answer is just not made.

Answer choice (D) is wrong because, as I see it, at least the comparison between types of unions can't be made from the passage.

Answer choice (E) is wrong because, again, it's a comparison between type of unions not supported by the passage.

I agree with you that a lot of answers are comparing different types of unions in a way that doesn't get any support from the passage. The passage presents different types, but says very little about the relevant differences. It's more about the difference between union and non-union, not a difference within unions.

Established events vs predictions could occur anywhere - I don't think it's particularly likely or unlikely to come up, so, as always, pay close attention to the wording of the passage and differentiate claims by whether they're predictions of the future or descriptions of the past.

Robert Carroll

[fortunateking]

I think for this one the testmaker managed to confuse us by using the word HOWEVER before quoting Ashenfelter's findings as it makes no sense as Ashenfelter's actually agrees with what's going on before him

[Robert Carroll]

fortunateking,

Yes! What was disagreed with was the undue focus on union vs nonunion differentials, as the sentence before Ashenfelter's pioneering study indicates. So Ashenfelter agrees with the facts mentioned before, but disagrees with focusing on them to the exclusion of other things.

Robert Carroll