This is from a Manhattan GMAT CAT (3rd one) I took a week ago:

Letter to the editor: Proposition Q, a controversial measure on this year’s ballot, would prohibit the ownership of handguns within the city’s limits. Under the plan, gun owners would have a 90-day grace period to turn in their weapons to authorities. Proponents of the proposition argue that fewer handguns on the streets would lead to less violent crime, making the city safer for all of its citizens. Unfortunately, the ban would actually have the opposite effect. Since only law abiding citizens would honor the ban, armed criminals would not only keep their weapons but would also have the confidence to act with impunity on a population that could no longer defend itself.

In the letter to the editor, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A. The first is an observation that the author uses to support a particular position; the second is that position.
B. The first is a pattern of cause and effect that the author believes to be true; the second offers evidence to contradict this pattern.
C. The first is a position that the author argues will not hold in this case; the second is the author’s position.
D. The first is a prediction that the author believes to be untrue. The second is a statement of fact that undermines the author’s position.
E. The first is a direct relationship that the author believes will not hold in this case; the second offers evidence in support of the author’s position.

The correct answer is marked as E. However, isn't the word "evidence" in answer E way too strong? The second bold statement can hardly be considered "evidence" if it's just an assertion/prediction made by the author. Wouldn't C be the better choice here?

i agree with you that "evidence" is not the correct word here, since the second bold is hypothetical. we should change that to "an assertion in support of...".

however, this choice is still better than (c), which is just plain wrong.
"the author's position" would refer to the MAIN CONCLUSION of the argument, which is not the second bold. (the main conclusion of this argument is "the ban would actually have the opposite effect.")

still, yeah, we ought to fix that wording. thanks.

post4946.html?hilit=proposition%20Q#p4946

Even I went for C because I thought "Evidence" in option E is misleading.

Though C is not the author's position, It supplements the author's position.

.

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Emily Sledge
Instructor
ManhattanGMAT

For what it's worth - the problem is still present in Manhattan CAT 4.

The problem stated below is still persistent on the prep test and for exactly the same reasons mentioned earlier, I didn't select 'E' as the answer.

Please have this corrected at the earliest or please advice if there is something that I'm missing and the experts here can cite reasons to explain why the answer choice it still retained in its present form.

Wow, a little demanding aren’t we? Ron gave you an explanation and a correction above; what more do you want?

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Tim Sanders
Manhattan GMAT Instructor