GMAT Critical Reasoning Discussions

MBA
421
Hi Anish,

Answer to this question has to be (A) because all other options are just irrrelevant..a possible explaination of option (A) is as follows:
Simon states that only first add is effective and others are LARGELY ignored.
Theodore states that effectiveness of advertising is decreasing because ability to recall the interent adds (of the adds people see while browsing) is decreasing
If we are asked to club these two together, we need to retain the truth of both the assertions. Since, people are able to recall each and every "first" adds and "largely" ignore others, one way to decrease the efficiency of adds is to reduce the number of "first" adds and increase the number of "other" adds which are not going to be recalled by anyone. Hence, people have to surf longer to see more adds so that they can ignore more adds :smile:

Moreover, optionc(C) just says that duration of surfing is reduced. It doesn't mean that ability to recall the adds is affected.


Wow! That's an excellent reasoning!
Dude, you are also in Hyd. So am wondering if we can get in touch with each other...!
422

Have any one got 1000 sc & 1000 cr detailed explanation of solution taken from testfever.com ........pls help

423

awesome shiva!!
u seem to be cracking CRs quite well.

gr8 job!!

424
Now you have explained it, C looks correct to me also.
Because of asking a diff thing, I also got totally confused...!

Thanks for helping.


Welcome dude.Thanks for posting questions
425
For Q 1 I'll go with C
and For Q2 I''l go with D.


gmatk,

I would go for the same choices. Here's my reasoning.

Q1.

Although aspirin has been proven to eliminate moderate fever associated with some illnesses, many doctors no longer routinely recommend its use for this purpose. A moderate fever stimulates the activity of the bodys disease-fighting white blood cells and also inhibits the growth of many strains of disease-causing bacteria.
If the statements above are true, which of the following conclusions is most strongly supported by them?

(A) Aspirin, an effective painkiller, alleviates the pain and discomfort of many illnesses.
Nothing in the passage suggests that Aspirin is a pain killer.

(B) Aspirin can prolong a patients illness by eliminating moderate fever helpful in fighting some diseases.
Aspirin does have a disadvantage . But it is not certain whether it goes far to prolong the illness.

(C) Aspirin inhibits the growth of white blood cells, which are necessary for fighting some illnesses.
Seems to be the BEST CHOICE. Though it has to be assumed that choice is not talking about aspirin, directly affecting growth of white blood cells. Passage says asprin indirectly doesn't let moderate fever stimulate growth of WBC.

(D) The more white blood cells a patients body produces, the less severe the patients illness will be
Cannot be generalized as there could be illness due to high WBC production.

(E) The focus of modern medicine is on inhibiting the growth of disease-causing bacteria within the body.
Too far a conclusion.


Q2.

Because postage rates are rising, Home Decorator magazine plans to maximize its profits by reducing by one half the number of issues it publishes each year. The quality of articles, the number of articles published per year, and the subscription price will not change. Market research shows that neither subscribers nor advertisers will be lost if the magazines plan is instituted.

Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest evidence that the magazines profits are likely to decline if the plan is instituted?
(A) With the new postage rates, a typical issue under the proposed plan would cost about one-third more to mail than a typical current issue would.
2 old unit price - 1.33 old unit price leaves the maganize with savings rather than more expediture.

(B) The majority of the magazines subscribers are less concerned about a possible reduction in the quantity of the magazines articles than about a possible loss of the current high quality of its articles.
Subscribers will NOT be lost and neither subscription will change. So customers concern will not decline the profits.

(C) Many of the magazines long-time subscribers would continue their subscriptions even if the subscription price were increased.
Not relavant. The related things are declining profits and reduction in no of issues.

(D) Most of the advertisers that purchase advertising space in the magazine will continue to spend the same amount on advertising per issue as they have in the past
Correct choice. The advertising per issue remains constant and the no of issues decrease, in turn decreasing the earnings from advertisements.

(E) Production costs for the magazine are expected to remain stable.
Doesn't decline the profit.
426
1. The extent to which a society is really free can be gauged by its attitude toward artistic expression. freedom of expression can easily be voilated in even the most outwardly democratic of societies. When a government arts council withholds funding from a dance performance that its members deem "obscene", the voices of a few bureaucrats have in fact censored the work of the choreagrapher, therby committing the real obscenity of repression.

which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?

a) Members of government arts councils are screened to ensure that their beliefs reflect those of the majority.
b) The term "obscenity" has several different meanings that should not be used interchangeably for rhetorical effect.
c) Failing to provide financial support for a performance is not the same as actively preventing or inhibiting it.
d) The council's decision could be reversed if the performance were altered to conform to public standards of appropriateness.
e) the definition of abscenity is something on which most members of a society can agree.



Choice C seems to the best one.

The Argument seems to be "By with holding funds, the arts council has repressed the expression of art or has violated the freedom of expression"

Now, any choice that disconnects withholding funds and freedom of expression weakens the argument. Choice C suggests that the withholding funds is different from actively repressing the expression and hence is the best choice.

Reasoning for Other choices.
A - The council might have justly judged obscenity but it has no bearing on whether the council repressed the freedom of expression.
B- freedom of expression and NOT obscenity is the related to the argument.
C- (already provided above)
D- Doesn't affect the argument.
E- same reasoning as B.


What do you people say?
427
Hi puys,
1. Are you still reading the other newspaper in town? Did you know that the Daily Bugle is owned by an out-of-town business syndicate that couldnt care less about the people of Gotham City? Read the Daily Clarion, the only real voice of the people of Gotham City!
Which of the following most directly refutes the argument raised in the advertisement above?
(A) Over half of the advertising revenues of the Daily Clarion come from firms whose headquarters are located outside of Gotham City.
(B) The Daily Clarion usually devotes more of its pages to out-of-town news than does the Daily Bugle.
(C) Nearly 40 percent of the readers of the Daily Clarion reside outside the limits of Gotham City.
(D) The editor-in-chief and all the other members of the editorial staff of the Daily Bugle have lived and worked in Gotham City for ten years or more.
(E) The Daily Bugle has been published in Gotham City for a longer time than has the Daily Clarion.
2. As one who has always believed that truth is our nations surest weapon in the propaganda war against our foes, I am distressed by reports of disinformation campaigns by American intelligence agents in Western Europe. In a disinformation campaign, untruths are disseminated through gullible local journalists in order to damage the interests of our enemies and protect our own. Those who defend this practice say that lying is necessary to counter Soviet disinformation campaigns aimed at damaging Americas political interests. These apologists contend that one must fight fire with fire. I would point out to the apologists that the fire department finds water more effective.
The author of the passage above bases his conclusion on which of the following?
(A) A circular definition of disinformation
(B) An example of the ineffectiveness of lying as a weapon in the propaganda war
(C) An analogy between truth and water
(D) An appeal to the authority of the fire department
(E) An attack on the character of American intelligence agents in Western Europe
428

one more...

1.Dr. A: The new influenza vaccine is useless at best and possibly dangerous. I would never use it on a patient.
Dr. B: But three studies published in the Journal of Medical Associates have rated that vaccine as unusually effective.
Dr. A: The studies must have been faulty because the vaccine is worthless.
In which of the following is the reasoning most similar to that of Dr. A?
(A) Three of my patients have been harmed by that vaccine during the past three weeks, so the vaccine is unsafe.
(B) Jerrold Jersey recommends this milk, and I dont trust Jerrold Jersey, so I wont buy this milk.
(C) Wingzz tennis balls perform best because they are far more effective than any other tennis balls.
(D) Im buying Vim Vitamins. Doctors recommend them more often than they recommend any other vitamins, so Vim Vitamins must be good.
(E) Since University of Muldoon graduates score about 20 percent higher than average on the GMAT, Sheila Lee, a University of Muldoon graduate, will score about 20 percent higher than average when she takes the GMAT.

I am not able to justify any of the reasonings..could u guys help me out :dontgeti:

429
Hi puys,
1. Are you still reading the other newspaper in town? Did you know that the Daily Bugle is owned by an out-of-town business syndicate that couldn't care less about the people of Gotham City? Read the Daily Clarion, the only real voice of the people of Gotham City!
Which of the following most directly refutes the argument raised in the advertisement above?
(A) Over half of the advertising revenues of the Daily Clarion come from firms whose headquarters are located outside of Gotham City.
(B) The Daily Clarion usually devotes more of its pages to out-of-town news than does the Daily Bugle.
(C) Nearly 40 percent of the readers of the Daily Clarion reside outside the limits of Gotham City.
(D) The editor-in-chief and all the other members of the editorial staff of the Daily Bugle have lived and worked in Gotham City for ten years or more.
(E) The Daily Bugle has been published in Gotham City for a longer time than has the Daily Clarion.
2. As one who has always believed that truth is our nation's surest weapon in the propaganda war against our foes, I am distressed by reports of "disinformation" campaigns by American intelligence agents in Western Europe. In a disinformation campaign, untruths are disseminated through gullible local journalists in order to damage the interests of our enemies and protect our own. Those who defend this practice say that lying is necessary to counter Soviet disinformation campaigns aimed at damaging America's political interests. These apologists contend that one must fight fire with fire. I would point out to the apologists that the fire department finds water more effective.
The author of the passage above bases his conclusion on which of the following?
(A) A circular definition of "disinformation"
(B) An example of the ineffectiveness of lying as a weapon in the propaganda war
(C) An analogy between truth and water
(D) An appeal to the authority of the fire department
(E) An attack on the character of American intelligence agents in Western Europe


1) I would go for (D). It seems most convincing logic against the argument that this paper shouldn't be read.

2) (C)
430
one more...

1.Dr. A: The new influenza vaccine is useless at best and possibly dangerous. I would never use it on a patient.
Dr. B: But three studies published in the Journal of Medical Associates have rated that vaccine as unusually effective.
Dr. A: The studies must have been faulty because the vaccine is worthless.
In which of the following is the reasoning most similar to that of Dr. A?
(A) Three of my patients have been harmed by that vaccine during the past three weeks, so the vaccine is unsafe.
(B) Jerrold Jersey recommends this milk, and I dont trust Jerrold Jersey, so I wont buy this milk.
(C) Wingzz tennis balls perform best because they are far more effective than any other tennis balls.
(D) Im buying Vim Vitamins. Doctors recommend them more often than they recommend any other vitamins, so Vim Vitamins must be good.
(E) Since University of Muldoon graduates score about 20 percent higher than average on the GMAT, Sheila Lee, a University of Muldoon graduate, will score about 20 percent higher than average when she takes the GMAT.

I am not able to justify any of the reasonings..could u guys help me out :dontgeti:


I think (D) is the answer. Dr A states something without any basis of reason. Similarly in (D), vitamins are supposed to be good because doctors recommend them but there is no reason why they do so.
431
Choice C seems to the best one.

The Argument seems to be "By with holding funds, the arts council has repressed the expression of art or has violated the freedom of expression"

Now, any choice that disconnects withholding funds and freedom of expression weakens the argument. Choice C suggests that the withholding funds is different from actively repressing the expression and hence is the best choice.

Reasoning for Other choices.
A - The council might have justly judged obscenity but it has no bearing on whether the council repressed the freedom of expression.
B- freedom of expression and NOT obscenity is the related to the argument.
C- (already provided above)
D- Doesn't affect the argument.
E- same reasoning as B.


What do you people say?


I support Phalanx's reasoning.
432
My Responses:
(B) The Daily Clarion usually devotes more of its pages to out-of-town news than does the Daily Bugle.
(C) An analogy between truth and water
(B) Jerrold Jersey recommends this milk, and I don't trust Jerrold Jersey, so I won't buy this milk.

Am not too sure of the second answer though.

HG
433
anish_goyal Says
I think (D) is the answer. Dr A states something without any basis of reason. Similarly in (D), vitamins are supposed to be good because doctors recommend them but there is no reason why they do so.



Hi Anish,

OA for this is (C)....can anybody explain the reasoning behind this plz :dontgeti:
434

Guys,

Here are some good CRs...thought of sharing with u all

1. To avoid a hostile takeover attempt, the board of directors of Wellco, Inc., a provider of life and health insurance, planned to take out large loans and use them to purchase a publishing company, a chocolate factory, and a nationwide chain of movie theaters. The directors anticipated that these purchase initially would plunge the corporation deep into debt, rendering it unattractive to those who wanted to take it over, but that steadily rising insurance rates would allow the company to pay off the debt within five years. Meanwhile, revenues from the three new businesses would enable the corporation as a whole to continue to meet its increased operating expenses. Ultimately, according o the directors plan, the diversification would strengthen the corporation by varying the sources and schedules of its annual revenues.
Which of the following, assuming that all are equally possible, would most enhance the chances of the plans success?
(A) A widespread drought decreases the availability of cacao beans, from which chocolate is manufacture, diving up chocolate prices worldwide.
(B) New government regulations require a 30 percent across-the-board rate rollback of all insurance companies, to begin immediately and to be completed within a five-year period.
(C) Congress enacts a statute, effective after six months, making it illegal for any parent not to carry health insurance coverage for his or her child.
(D) Large-screen televisions drop dramatically in price due to surprise alterations in trade barriers with Japan; movie theater attendance dwindles as a consequence.
(E) A new, inexpensive process is discovered for making paper pulp, and paper prices fall to 60 percent of their former level.
2. Although its purpose is laudable, the exclusionary rule, which forbids a court to consider evidence seized in violation of the defendants constitutional rights, has unduly hampered law-enforcement efforts. Even when the rights violation was a minor or purely technical one, turning on a detail of procedure rather than on the abrogation of some fundamental liberty, and even when it has been clear that the police officers were acting in good faith, the evidence obtained has been considered tainted under this rule and may not even by introduced. In consequence, defendants who were undoubtedly guilty have been set free, perhaps to steal, rape, or murder again.
The author of the passage above assumes all of the following EXCEPT:
(A) The constitutional rights of criminal defendants should be protected.
(B) Most cases in which the exclusionary rule has been invoked have involved purely technical violations of constitutional principles.
(C) The number of cases whose outcome has been affected by the exclusionary rule is significant.
(D) Some of the defendants set free under the exclusionary rule have been guilty of serious criminal offenses.
(E) Merely technical violations of the rules concerning evidence should be treated differently from deliberate assaults upon human rights.


3. When the government of a nation announced recently that a leader of the nations political opposition had died of a mysterious illness in prison, few seasoned observers of the regime were surprised. As the police captain in an old movie remarked when asked about the condition of a prisoner, Were trying to decide whether he committed suicide or died trying to escape.
The statements above invite which of the following conclusions?
(A) The opposition leader was probably killed trying to escape from prison.
(B) The opposition leader may not be dead at all.
(C) It is unlikely that the head of the regime knows the true cause of the opposition leaders death.
(D) The opposition leader probably killed himself.
(E) The regime very likely was responsible for the death of the opposition leader.


Happy Solving!!:gunsmilie:

435
Guys,

Here are some good CRs...thought of sharing with u all

1. To avoid a hostile takeover attempt, the board of directors of Wellco, Inc., a provider of life and health insurance, planned to take out large loans and use them to purchase a publishing company, a chocolate factory, and a nationwide chain of movie theaters. The directors anticipated that these purchase initially would plunge the corporation deep into debt, rendering it unattractive to those who wanted to take it over, but that steadily rising insurance rates would allow the company to pay off the debt within five years. Meanwhile, revenues from the three new businesses would enable the corporation as a whole to continue to meet its increased operating expenses. Ultimately, according o the directors plan, the diversification would strengthen the corporation by varying the sources and schedules of its annual revenues.
Which of the following, assuming that all are equally possible, would most enhance the chances of the plans success?
(A) A widespread drought decreases the availability of cacao beans, from which chocolate is manufacture, diving up chocolate prices worldwide.
(B) New government regulations require a 30 percent across-the-board rate rollback of all insurance companies, to begin immediately and to be completed within a five-year period.
(C) Congress enacts a statute, effective after six months, making it illegal for any parent not to carry health insurance coverage for his or her child.
(D) Large-screen televisions drop dramatically in price due to surprise alterations in trade barriers with Japan; movie theater attendance dwindles as a consequence.
(E) A new, inexpensive process is discovered for making paper pulp, and paper prices fall to 60 percent of their former level.
2. Although its purpose is laudable, the exclusionary rule, which forbids a court to consider evidence seized in violation of the defendants constitutional rights, has unduly hampered law-enforcement efforts. Even when the rights violation was a minor or purely technical one, turning on a detail of procedure rather than on the abrogation of some fundamental liberty, and even when it has been clear that the police officers were acting in good faith, the evidence obtained has been considered tainted under this rule and may not even by introduced. In consequence, defendants who were undoubtedly guilty have been set free, perhaps to steal, rape, or murder again.
The author of the passage above assumes all of the following EXCEPT:
(A) The constitutional rights of criminal defendants should be protected.
(B) Most cases in which the exclusionary rule has been invoked have involved purely technical violations of constitutional principles.
(C) The number of cases whose outcome has been affected by the exclusionary rule is significant.
(D) Some of the defendants set free under the exclusionary rule have been guilty of serious criminal offenses.
(E) Merely technical violations of the rules concerning evidence should be treated differently from deliberate assaults upon human rights.


3. When the government of a nation announced recently that a leader of the nations political opposition had died of a mysterious illness in prison, few seasoned observers of the regime were surprised. As the police captain in an old movie remarked when asked about the condition of a prisoner, Were trying to decide whether he committed suicide or died trying to escape.
The statements above invite which of the following conclusions?
(A) The opposition leader was probably killed trying to escape from prison.
(B) The opposition leader may not be dead at all.
(C) It is unlikely that the head of the regime knows the true cause of the opposition leaders death.
(D) The opposition leader probably killed himself.
(E) The regime very likely was responsible for the death of the opposition leader.


Happy Solving!!:gunsmilie:


1) (C) as it favours company's main money generating business of Insurance.

2) C is not mentioned in the paragraph so (C) is the answer.

3) (E).

Please share the OAs...
436
1) (C) as it favours company's main money generating business of Insurance.

2) C is not mentioned in the paragraph so (C) is the answer.

3) (E).

Please share the OAs...


perfect answers anish....u have been cracking CRs quite well these days :D

however, can u explain the answer to third ques...what's so wrong with (c)?
437
one more...

Dr. A: The new influenza vaccine is useless at best and possibly dangerous. I would never use it on a patient.
Dr. B: But three studies published in the Journal of Medical Associates have rated that vaccine as unusually effective.
Dr. A: The studies must have been faulty because the vaccine is worthless.
In which of the following is the reasoning most similar to that of Dr. A?
(A) Three of my patients have been harmed by that vaccine during the past three weeks, so the vaccine is unsafe.
(B) Jerrold Jersey recommends this milk, and I dont trust Jerrold Jersey, so I wont buy this milk.
(C) Wingzz tennis balls perform best because they are far more effective than any other tennis balls.
(D) Im buying Vim Vitamins. Doctors recommend them more often than they recommend any other vitamins, so Vim Vitamins must be good.
(E) Since University of Muldoon graduates score about 20 percent higher than average on the GMAT, Sheila Lee, a University of Muldoon graduate, will score about 20 percent higher than average when she takes the GMAT.

I am not able to justify any of the reasonings..could u guys help me out :dontgeti:



The Answer i got at my first attempt was "B". But now that it has been told that the OA is "C", i could see one way how it could be correct.


1.Dr. A: The new influenza vaccine is useless at best and possibly dangerous. I would never use it on a patient.
Dr. B: But three studies published in the Journal of Medical Associates have rated that vaccine as unusually effective.
Dr. A: The studies must have been faulty because the vaccine is worthless.
In which of the following is the reasoning most similar to that of Dr. A?
Statements rephrased for reasoning:
Dr A makes an assertion based on his own judgement that a product is useless.Dr A is NOT influenced by third party recommendatitions and deems those recommendations untrue when they contadict his own judgement.
(A) Three of my patients have been harmed by that vaccine during the past three weeks, so the vaccine is unsafe.
here 3 observations have been generalized to make an assertion. Such a resoning cannot be related to the passage.
(B) Jerrold Jersey recommends this milk, and I dont trust Jerrold Jersey, so I wont buy this milk.
Third party opinion influences personal judgement. Hence is NOT similar to passage.
(C) Wingzz tennis balls perform best because they are far more effective than any other tennis balls.
Here assertion "best performance" is based on personal judgement that the product is more effective.
(D) Im buying Vim Vitamins. Doctors recommend them more often than they recommend any other vitamins, so Vim Vitamins must be good.
Third party opinions influences personal judgement.
(E) Since University of Muldoon graduates score about 20 percent higher than average on the GMAT, Sheila Lee, a University of Muldoon graduate, will score about 20 percent higher than average when she takes the GMAT.
The concept of average is misunderstood.


Any opinions on my resoning is most welcome.:D
438
The Answer i got at my first attempt was "B". But now that it has been told that the OA is "C", i could see one way how it could be correct.


1.Dr. A: The new influenza vaccine is useless at best and possibly dangerous. I would never use it on a patient.
Dr. B: But three studies published in the Journal of Medical Associates have rated that vaccine as unusually effective.
Dr. A: The studies must have been faulty because the vaccine is worthless.
In which of the following is the reasoning most similar to that of Dr. A?
Statements rephrased for reasoning:
Dr A makes an assertion based on his own judgement that a product is useless.Dr A is NOT influenced by third party recommendatitions and deems those recommendations untrue when they contadict his own judgement.
(A) Three of my patients have been harmed by that vaccine during the past three weeks, so the vaccine is unsafe.
here 3 observations have been generalized to make an assertion. Such a resoning cannot be related to the passage.
(B) Jerrold Jersey recommends this milk, and I dont trust Jerrold Jersey, so I wont buy this milk.
Third party opinion influences personal judgement. Hence is NOT similar to passage.
(C) Wingzz tennis balls perform best because they are far more effective than any other tennis balls.
Here assertion "best performance" is based on personal judgement that the product is more effective.
(D) Im buying Vim Vitamins. Doctors recommend them more often than they recommend any other vitamins, so Vim Vitamins must be good.
Third party opinions influences personal judgement.
(E) Since University of Muldoon graduates score about 20 percent higher than average on the GMAT, Sheila Lee, a University of Muldoon graduate, will score about 20 percent higher than average when she takes the GMAT.
The concept of average is misunderstood.
Any opinions on my reasoning is most welcome.:D


Your reasoning is good. The only issue that I see is that "balls perform best"...? Is it an assertion or a fact. If it is an assertion based on personal judgment then it's fine. If it is a fact, then not.
439
anish_goyal Says
Your reasoning is good. The only issue that I see is that "balls perform best"...? Is it an assertion or a fact. If it is an assertion based on personal judgment then it's fine. If it is a fact, then not.


Anish,

author has made the assertion that wingzz tennis balls are the best because "she thinks" that wingzz tennis balls are far more effective than any other. In other words, she has concluded based on her judgment only :smile:
440
Hi All,

 I need some help on the attached question. This is from GMATPrep and I got it wrong. The option marked with the bold black dot in the attachment is my wrong answer. The option marked by a square blue frame is the correct answers marked by the software. However the software does not explain why a particular choice is correct and others are wrong. I will be very grateful if someone can help justify why the correct choice is actually correct. Thanks in advance.

Cheers!