GRE General TestAnalytical WritingHard
A university proposes to significantly increase tuition fees, arguing that the additional revenue is essential to maintain academic excellence and attract top faculty. Opponents counter that such an increase will make the university less accessible to lower and middle-income students, thereby reducing diversity and potentially impacting the university's mission. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the opponents' claim that the tuition increase will make the university less accessible to lower and middle-income students?
- AMany current students express concerns about the rising cost of living in the city where the university is located.
- BEnrollment data indicates a general decline in applications from lower-income students across all universities in the region.
- CStudies show that universities with higher tuition fees often rank higher in national academic surveys.
- DThe university plans to allocate a substantial portion of the increased tuition revenue towards expanding its financial aid programs for needy students.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. The university plans to allocate a substantial portion of the increased tuition revenue towards expanding its financial aid programs for needy students.
The opponents claim reduced accessibility for lower/middle-income students due to higher tuition. If a significant portion of the increased tuition is specifically redirected to financial aid for those students, it directly mitigates the accessibility concern, weakening the opponents' claim.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This points to a related financial burden but doesn't address how the tuition increase specifically impacts accessibility or the opponents' claim about it.
- B. While relevant to overall trends, this doesn't weaken the argument that *this specific* tuition increase would make *this university* less accessible, as it describes a broader, pre-existing issue.
- C. This strengthens the proponents' argument for academic excellence but does not address the opponents' claim about accessibility.
Countering an Accessibility Claim
To counter a claim that a policy will reduce accessibility, one must demonstrate that the policy includes provisions or mechanisms that maintain or even enhance accessibility for the affected group.
- Focus on the specific group whose accessibility is claimed to be reduced.
- Look for details about how the policy directly addresses or offsets the accessibility concern.
- Distinguish between general trends and the specific impact of the proposed policy.
Memory trick: Balancing the effects, especially on different groups.