Can you advise me some techniques for such cause-result types CR.
@Indian_Stallion Here are my tips for the causation questions what they are worth,
You first need to identify and understand the causal relationship between any two elements in the question.
The typical errors associated with causal questions are: 1. The cause - result relationship is reversed (as happened in our above example). 2. A simple correlation or coincidence is mistaken for a causal relationship. 3. There can be an alternative explanation for the result.
one straight from OG....the answer choices 'A' and 'D' appear to be confusing ...pls help.
In the arid land along the Colorado River, use of the rivers water supply is strictly controlled: farms along the river each have a limited allocation that they are allowed to use for irrigation. But the trees that grow in narrow strips along the rivers banks also use its water. Clearly, therefore, if farmers were to remove those trees, more water would be available for crop irrigation.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
(A) The trees along the rivers banks shelter it from the sun and wind, thereby greatly reducing the amount of water lost through evaporation. (B) Owners of farms along the river will probably not undertake the expense of cutting down trees along the banks unless they are granted a greater allocation of water in return. (C) Many of the tree species currently found along the rivers banks are specifically adapted to growing in places where tree roots remain constantly wet. (D) The strip of land where trees grow along the rivers banks would not be suitable for growing crops if the trees were removed. (E) The distribution of water allocations for irrigation is intended to prevent farms farther upstream from using water needed by farms farther downstream.
one straight from OG....the answer choices 'A' and 'D' appear to be confusing ...pls help.
In the arid land along the Colorado River, use of the rivers water supply is strictly controlled: farms along the river each have a limited allocation that they are allowed to use for irrigation. But the trees that grow in narrow strips along the rivers banks also use its water. Clearly, therefore, if farmers were to remove those trees, more water would be available for crop irrigation.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
(A) The trees along the rivers banks shelter it from the sun and wind, thereby greatly reducing the amount of water lost through evaporation. (B) Owners of farms along the river will probably not undertake the expense of cutting down trees along the banks unless they are granted a greater allocation of water in return. (C) Many of the tree species currently found along the rivers banks are specifically adapted to growing in places where tree roots remain constantly wet. (D) The strip of land where trees grow along the rivers banks would not be suitable for growing crops if the trees were removed. (E) The distribution of water allocations for irrigation is intended to prevent farms farther upstream from using water needed by farms farther downstream.
IMO: A
Conclusion Drawn: If trees are removed, more water will be available for crop irrigation.
A: Weekens the argument the most by saying that the trees actually should not be cut, simply because they save some amount of water by shading the river, and by preventing evaporation. B: This argument does weeken the conclusion drawn above by putting up a question on whether the farmers will actually be given more quota of water to be used. But it refers to a point that is nowhere related to the conversation: "Who will cut the trees." C: This supports the conclusion. D: Not relevant to the discussion. Here, the passage is not talking about whether to use the land freed up by removing the trees. Its the water saved because of removal of trees. E: Not relevant. Upstream/downstream...faaltoo...
Conclusion Drawn: If trees are removed, more water will be available for crop irrigation.
A: Weekens the argument the most by saying that the trees actually should not be cut, simply because they save some amount of water by shading the river, and by preventing evaporation. B: This argument does weeken the conclusion drawn above by putting up a question on whether the farmers will actually be given more quota of water to be used. But it refers to a point that is nowhere related to the conversation: "Who will cut the trees." C: This supports the conclusion. D: Not relevant to the discussion. Here, the passage is not talking about whether to use the land freed up by removing the trees. Its the water saved because of removal of trees. E: Not relevant. Upstream/downstream...faaltoo...
Whats the OA...?
Cheers. Ankit
Yeah the OA is A.
I choose D and here is what i intrepreted initially....
the basic purpose of the tree removal is "more water for crop irrigation".. from D when the trees are removed and the land bcoms unsuitable for crops then whats the use of the water; hence it weakens the argument...
Now ... the argument does not speak of how the water is to be used , but only about the availablity of the water for the crops. Thus 'A' stands out.
I choose D and here is what i intrepreted initially....
the basic purpose of the tree removal is "more water for crop irrigation".. from D when the trees are removed and the land bcoms unsuitable for crops then whats the use of the water; hence it weakens the argument...
Now ... the argument does not speak of how the water is to be used , but only about the availablity of the water for the crops. Thus 'A' stands out.
Cheers.
Here the idea is to find a solution to get more water for the farms. How to do that: one option is given in the passage - remove the trees. If we find any statement countering this, we can say that weakens the argument the most. Option A does that by saying that there might not be an increase in the water supply if the trees are cut. Reason that is given is: the trees as of today also are supporting to save some water (by preventing excess of evaporation.)
Option D: Its just the land alongside (strip) the river that is being talked about. Whether to use that part of land is nowhere nowhere part of the argument.
A factory was trying out a new process for producing one of its products, with the goal of reducing production costs. A trial production run using the new process showed a 15 percent reduction in costs compared with past performance using the standard process. The production managers therefore concluded that the new process did produce a cost savings. Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt on the production managers conclusion? (A) In the cost reduction project that eventually led to the trial of the new process, production managers had initially been seeking cost reductions of 50 percent. (B) Analysis of the trial of the new process showed that the cost reduction during the trial was entirely attributable to a reduction in the umber of finished products rejected by quality control. (C) While the trial was being conducted, production costs at the factory for a similar product, produced without benefit of the new process, also showed a 15 percent reduction. (D) Although some of the factorys managers have been arguing that the product is outdated and ought to be redesigned, the use of the new production process does not involve any changes in the finished product. (E) Since the new process differs from the standard process only in the way in which the stage of production are organized and ordered, the cost of the materials used in the product is the same in both processes.
A proposed change to federal income tax laws would eliminate deductions from taxable income for donations a taxpayer has made to charitable and educational institutions. If this change were adopted, wealthy individuals would no longer be permitted such deductions. Therefore, many charitable and educational institutions would have to reduce services, and some would have to close their doors.
The argument above assumes which of the following? (A) Without the incentives offered by federal income tax laws, at least some wealthy individuals would not donate as much money to charitable and educational institutions as they otherwise would have. (B) Money contributed by individuals who make their donations because of provisions in the federal tax laws provides the only source of funding for many charitable and educational institutions. (C) The primary reason for not adopting the proposed change in the federal income tax laws cited above is to protect wealthy individuals from having to pay higher taxes. (D) Wealthy individuals who donate money to charitable and educational institutions are the only individuals who donate money to such institutions. (E) Income tax laws should be changed to make donations to charitable and educational institutions the only permissible deductions from taxable income.
A factory was trying out a new process for producing one of its products, with the goal of reducing production costs. A trial production run using the new process showed a 15 percent reduction in costs compared with past performance using the standard process. The production managers therefore concluded that the new process did produce a cost savings. Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt on the production managers conclusion? (A) In the cost reduction project that eventually led to the trial of the new process, production managers had initially been seeking cost reductions of 50 percent. (B) Analysis of the trial of the new process showed that the cost reduction during the trial was entirely attributable to a reduction in the umber of finished products rejected by quality control. (C) While the trial was being conducted, production costs at the factory for a similar product, produced without benefit of the new process, also showed a 15 percent reduction. (D) Although some of the factorys managers have been arguing that the product is outdated and ought to be redesigned, the use of the new production process does not involve any changes in the finished product. (E) Since the new process differs from the standard process only in the way in which the stage of production are organized and ordered, the cost of the materials used in the product is the same in both processes.
A proposed change to federal income tax laws would eliminate deductions from taxable income for donations a taxpayer has made to charitable and educational institutions. If this change were adopted, wealthy individuals would no longer be permitted such deductions. Therefore, many charitable and educational institutions would have to reduce services, and some would have to close their doors.
The argument above assumes which of the following? (A) Without the incentives offered by federal income tax laws, at least some wealthy individuals would not donate as much money to charitable and educational institutions as they otherwise would have. (B) Money contributed by individuals who make their donations because of provisions in the federal tax laws provides the only source of funding for many charitable and educational institutions. (C) The primary reason for not adopting the proposed change in the federal income tax laws cited above is to protect wealthy individuals from having to pay higher taxes. (D) Wealthy individuals who donate money to charitable and educational institutions are the only individuals who donate money to such institutions. (E) Income tax laws should be changed to make donations to charitable and educational institutions the only permissible deductions from taxable income.
A proposed change to federal income tax laws would eliminate deductions from taxable income for donations a taxpayer has made to charitable and educational institutions. If this change were adopted, wealthy individuals would no longer be permitted such deductions. Therefore, many charitable and educational institutions would have to reduce services, and some would have to close their doors.
The argument above assumes which of the following? (A) Without the incentives offered by federal income tax laws, at least some wealthy individuals would not donate as much money to charitable and educational institutions as they otherwise would have. (B) Money contributed by individuals who make their donations because of provisions in the federal tax laws provides the only source of funding for many charitable and educational institutions. (C) The primary reason for not adopting the proposed change in the federal income tax laws cited above is to protect wealthy individuals from having to pay higher taxes. (D) Wealthy individuals who donate money to charitable and educational institutions are the only individuals who donate money to such institutions. (E) Income tax laws should be changed to make donations to charitable and educational institutions the only permissible deductions from taxable income.
A factory was trying out a new process for producing one of its products, with the goal of reducing production costs. A trial production run using the new process showed a 15 percent reduction in costs compared with past performance using the standard process. The production managers therefore concluded that the new process did produce a cost savings. Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt on the production managers conclusion? (A) In the cost reduction project that eventually led to the trial of the new process, production managers had initially been seeking cost reductions of 50 percent. (B) Analysis of the trial of the new process showed that the cost reduction during the trial was entirely attributable to a reduction in the umber of finished products rejected by quality control. (C) While the trial was being conducted, production costs at the factory for a similar product, produced without benefit of the new process, also showed a 15 percent reduction. (D) Although some of the factorys managers have been arguing that the product is outdated and ought to be redesigned, the use of the new production process does not involve any changes in the finished product. (E) Since the new process differs from the standard process only in the way in which the stage of production are organized and ordered, the cost of the materials used in the product is the same in both processes.
IMO: C
Conclusion Drawn from the passage: The new process produces a cost savings to the company.
A: How much is the cost saved, is not the idea of the argument. So this point should be irrelevant to the discussion. B: This rather supports the argument saying that reduction in number of rejections by quality control deptt lead to less wastage of end products. And in turn this could have been one of the effects of that new process. c: This weakens the argument the most. This stmt gives us a proof that reduction in cost of end products was NOT because of the new process, since there exist other products, which did not follow the new process, and still for them the cost of production was less. D: Whether the design of the end product should be changed or not, is not part of the argument at all. E: 'The cost of materials' is again irrelevant. The passage is simply concerned about reduction in cost of the end product and not what process/path does the new process follow. Moreover, it is quite possible that the cost of materials is same, still the cost of end product is different.
A proposed change to federal income tax laws would eliminate deductions from taxable income for donations a taxpayer has made to charitable and educational institutions. If this change were adopted, wealthy individuals would no longer be permitted such deductions. Therefore, many charitable and educational institutions would have to reduce services, and some would have to close their doors.
The argument above assumes which of the following? (A) Without the incentives offered by federal income tax laws, at least some wealthy individuals would not donate as much money to charitable and educational institutions as they otherwise would have. (B) Money contributed by individuals who make their donations because of provisions in the federal tax laws provides the only source of funding for many charitable and educational institutions. (C) The primary reason for not adopting the proposed change in the federal income tax laws cited above is to protect wealthy individuals from having to pay higher taxes. (D) Wealthy individuals who donate money to charitable and educational institutions are the only individuals who donate money to such institutions. (E) Income tax laws should be changed to make donations to charitable and educational institutions the only permissible deductions from taxable income.
IMO: B
Conclusion drawn from passage: If this new law is implemented, charitable institutions would have to reduce their services.
Thought Process of the Author: 1) If the new law is implemented --> 2) People will have to pay tax on what they donate --> 3) Charitable institutions will have to reduce their services.
Clearly the author has made an assumption to state the third point. To fill the gap, I would add something like: Because the people who are worried about more tax being deducted will not offer their donations any more. The closest option is B. (The keyword is 'only'.)
A: This statement is a derivation from the passage, and not an assumption. D: This one confused me. But my reasoning to eliminate this would be - This statement in itself makes an assumption that wealthy people will not donate after this law is implemented.
A proposed change to federal income tax laws would eliminate deductions from taxable income for donations a taxpayer has made to charitable and educational institutions. If this change were adopted, wealthy individuals would no longer be permitted such deductions. Therefore, many charitable and educational institutions would have to reduce services, and some would have to close their doors.
The argument above assumes which of the following? (A) Without the incentives offered by federal income tax laws, at least some wealthy individuals would not donate as much money to charitable and educational institutions as they otherwise would have. (B) Money contributed by individuals who make their donations because of provisions in the federal tax laws provides the only source of funding for many charitable and educational institutions. (C) The primary reason for not adopting the proposed change in the federal income tax laws cited above is to protect wealthy individuals from having to pay higher taxes. (D) Wealthy individuals who donate money to charitable and educational institutions are the only individuals who donate money to such institutions. (E) Income tax laws should be changed to make donations to charitable and educational institutions the only permissible deductions from taxable income.
Please answer this with explanation- Blood banks will shortly start to screen all donors for NANB hepatitis. Although the new screening tests are estimated to disqualify up to 5 percent of all prospective blood donors, they will still miss two-thirds of donors carrying NANB hepatitis. Therefore, about 10 percent of actual donors will still supply NANB-contaminated blood. 19. The argument above depends on which of the following assumptions? (A) Donors carrying NANB hepatitis do not, in a large percentage of cases, carry other infections for which reliable screening tests are routinely performed. (B) Donors carrying NANB hepatitis do not, in a large percentage of cases, develop the disease themselves at any point. (C) The estimate of the number of donors who would be disqualified by tests for NANB hepatitis is an underestimate. (D) The incidence of NANB hepatitis is lower among the potential blood donors than it is in the population at large. (E) The donors who will still supply NANB-contaminated blood will donate blood at the average frequency for all donors.
Please answer this with explanation- Blood banks will shortly start to screen all donors for NANB hepatitis. Although the new screening tests are estimated to disqualify up to 5 percent of all prospective blood donors, they will still miss two-thirds of donors carrying NANB hepatitis. Therefore, about 10 percent of actual donors will still supply NANB-contaminated blood. 19. The argument above depends on which of the following assumptions? (A) Donors carrying NANB hepatitis do not, in a large percentage of cases, carry other infections for which reliable screening tests are routinely performed. (B) Donors carrying NANB hepatitis do not, in a large percentage of cases, develop the disease themselves at any point. (C) The estimate of the number of donors who would be disqualified by tests for NANB hepatitis is an underestimate. (D) The incidence of NANB hepatitis is lower among the potential blood donors than it is in the population at large. (E) The donors who will still supply NANB-contaminated blood will donate blood at the average frequency for all donors.
The argument states that the new screening tests will miss two-thirds of donors carrying NANB hepatitis.... and this constitutues to about 10% of actual blood donors...
Therefore, the conclusion that 10% of total blood donors will supply NANB contaminated blood is dependent on the premise that the new screening tests will miss two-thirds of donors carrying NANB...
Option (A) says..
Donors carrying NANB hepatitis do not, in a large percentage of cases, carry other infections for which reliable screening tests are routinely performed
What if donors carrying NANB hepatitis carry other diseases.....What if they are detected during other screening tests.... Then the "two-thirds" figure would decrease.... and have a direct impact on the conclusion that 10% of actualy donors will supply NANB contaminated blood...
In an attempt to reduce the crime rate, the governor is getting tough on criminals and making prison conditions harsher. Part of this effort has been to deny inmates the access they formerly had to college-level courses. However, this action is clearly counter to the governor's ultimate goal, since after being released form prison, inmates who had taken such courses committed far fewer crimes overall than other inmates.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?
A. Not being able to take college-level courses while in prison is unlikely to deter anyone from a crime that he or she might otherwise have committed. B. Former inmates are no more likely to commit crimes than are members of the general population. C. The group of inmates who chose to take college-level courses were not already less likely than other inmates to commit crimes after being released. D. Taking high school level courses in prison has less effect on an inmate's subsequent behavior than taking college-level courses does. E. The governor's ultimate goal actually is to gain popularity by convincing people that something effective is being done about crime.
