GMAT Test Prep: CR-52103364 GMAT Critical Reasoning | TOEFL IELTS GMAT GRE SAT ACT PTE ESL

Last year a record number of new manufacturing jobs were created. Will this year bring another record? Well, any new manufacturing job is created either within an existing company or by the start-up of a new company. Within existing firms, new jobs have been created this year at well below last year's record pace. At the same time, there is considerable evidence that the number of new companies starting up will be no higher this year than it was last year and surely the new companies starting up this year will create no more jobs per company than did last year's start-ups. So clearly, the number of new jobs created this year will fall short of last year's record.

In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

Select one of the following answer choices

A The first is presented as an obvious truth on which the argument is based; the second is a prediction advanced in support of the main conclusion of the argument.

B The first is presented as an obvious truth on which the argument is based; the second is an objection that the argument rejects.

C The first is presented as an obvious truth on which the argument is based; the second is the main conclusion of the argument.

D The first is a generalization that the argument seeks to establish; the second is a claim that has been advanced in support of a position that the argument opposes.

E The first is a generalization that the argument seeks to establish; the second is a claim that has been advanced in order to challenge that generalization.