I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but bear with me for one more : )

The Civil Service Act of 1883, also known as the Pendleton Act, which created a professional corps of administrators, was passed after a disappointed office-seeker assassinated President James A. Garfield. For a hundred years, this system has anchored American government service to competence rather than corruption. The best way to preserve this state in the new millennium is to maintain the Pendleton Act as it is.

Which of the following would be most useful to evaluate the argument’s conclusion?

A The methods that the Swiss and British governments have used to prevent corruption in government service for the past one hundred years
B The current level of job satisfaction among government office-seekers and office-holders
C The levels of competence and corruption in American government service between 1950 and the present
D The number of Presidents assassinated since the passage of the Pendleton Act
E The percentage of office-holders fired or convicted on charges stemming from corruption during the first hundred years of the Pendleton Act

Answer choice C is supposed to be correct:
This is said to be the answer, but I don't understand: even if you had that data, you would need a benchmark to compare it with, to see whether the Pendleton act was good or bad. Just having about 50 years of data, out of 100+ years of the act's life, and 232 years of the countries life is inefficient. It's explained somewhere in the choices that there is a gap of about 20 years the author doesn't mention, which is the issue, but the author doesn't really mention any figures or levels, except a single assassination. So why is it the answer?

Big thanks to anyone who tries to answer this.

This can be derived from POE. As the conclusion depends upon the previous results comparision competence and corruption.

'C' is the only option that attempts to do that. Rest all do not fit well.

I agree that we can get to C by POE (Process of Elimination). But as to why C is actually correct ...

The author states that the US Gov has been anchored to competence rather than corruption for 100 years, starting at 1883. This would bring us up to 1983. Although it is not known specifically when the speaker is talking, the speaker then mentions that maintaining the act will work in the "new millennium." Hence, the speaker is interested in the years from 2000 onward. As such, we need to know: has anything changed since 1983? Did competence levels decrease? Did corruption levels rise? Why did the speaker say that the act has helped for only 100 years? We are asked which would be the most helpful. C would be the most helpful because it would allow us to be sure that nothing has gone seriously amiss since 1983.

Thanks a ton for the explanation Jonathan,

The 'new millenium' was the key word here...what a wacky CR question!

You're welcome!

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Chris Brusznicki
MGMAT Instructor
Chicago, IL

Hi Jonathan,

Sorry for restarting the thread after 2 years.The act was passed only when the president was assassinated and we have no data in the question to confirm that he was assassinated in 1883.The act could have been formulated in 1883 but then passed at a later date.And y is option E not right.

Regards,
nuggins16

i feel the author is concerned about his insights for new millenium and option C directs better, in fact E is not relevant

Yes, I would agree.

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Jamie Nelson
ManhattanGMAT Instructor