Find all School-related info fast with the new School-Specific MBA Forum

It is currently 19 May 2013, 09:51
Customize  |  Hide

Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set

  Question banks Downloads My Bookmarks Reviews  
Author Message
TAGS:
Manager
Manager
Joined: 16 Feb 2011
Posts: 199
Schools: ABCD
Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 9 [0], given: 78

GMAT Tests User
Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set [#permalink] New post 31 Jul 2012, 16:04
00:00

Question Stats:

48% (02:20) correct 51% (02:11) wrong based on 2 sessions
Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set of locking doors at its entrance. In the town of Inverness, on the other hand, the entrances to nearly all banks are equipped with two sets of locking doors, operated by a mechanism that allows only one set of doors to be open at a time. It is clear, then, that banks in Inverness experience more robbery attempts than do those in La Rinconada, and have thus adopted the extra doors as a security measure.

Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?

a) Last year the number of bank robberies in La Rinconada was almost one-half greater than the corresponding figure for the previous year.
b) Inverness is known for its harsh winters, while the climate of La Rinconada is quite temperate year-round.
c) The mechanism of the double doors used by banks in Inverness allows bank security personnel to lock the doors remotely.
d) Bank robbery attempts are typically unsuccessful, and, even when the robbers do manage to escape with stolen money, the sum is usually quite small.
e) Inverness has almost twice as many police officers per capita as does La Rinconada.

Why is A) not a weakener? If the # of bank robberies in La Rin is > that in Inverness, the security is obviously out of question.

OA is B
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA
Intern
Intern
Joined: 18 Apr 2012
Posts: 2
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 0

GMAT ToolKit User
Re: Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set [#permalink] New post 31 Jul 2012, 23:46
The author assumes that the doors are installed for security purposes, B attacks this assumption. The doors are there for keeping the in-door temperature at a appropriate level.

If there are far fewer banks in Inverness than in La Rincodanca, the argument still stands.
Intern
Intern
Joined: 14 Apr 2012
Posts: 13
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, General Management
GMAT Date: 09-12-2012
GPA: 3.5
WE: Information Technology (Retail)
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 5 [0], given: 16

Re: Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set [#permalink] New post 01 Aug 2012, 09:59
A.Last year the number of bank robberies in La Rinconada was almost one-half greater than the corresponding figure for the previous year

The comparison is between Number of robberies in La Rinconada for last year and the year before that.
It doesnt talk about the number of robberies in Inverness.
Hence A doesn't weaken. In fact this option doesn't help us at all.

Hope the explanation helps.
Intern
Intern
Joined: 14 Apr 2012
Posts: 13
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, General Management
GMAT Date: 09-12-2012
GPA: 3.5
WE: Information Technology (Retail)
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 5 [0], given: 16

Re: Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set [#permalink] New post 01 Aug 2012, 10:00
[quote="pallavisatsangi"]A.Last year the number of bank robberies in La Rinconada was almost one-half greater than the corresponding figure for the previous year

The comparison is between Number of robberies in La Rinconada for last year and the year before that.
It doesnt talk about the number of robberies in Inverness.
Hence A doesn't weaken. In fact this option doesn't help us at all.

Hope the explanation helps.
Kaplan GMAT Instructor
User avatar
Joined: 25 Aug 2009
Posts: 574
Location: Cambridge, MA
Followers: 51

Kudos [?]: 127 [0], given: 2

GMAT Tests User
Re: Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set [#permalink] New post 01 Aug 2012, 14:52
Note also that the number of bank robberies isn't useful unless we know the number of banks! Twice as many bank robberies in a city with four times as many banks actually represents a city that is twice as safe.

There are plenty of reasons to rule out A), since it doesn't mention Inverness at all, but the # vs. % error is a classic issue that shows up on the GMAT again and again--keep your eyes out for that pattern!
_________________

Eli Meyer
Kaplan Teacher
http://www.kaptest.com/GMAT

Prepare with Kaplan and save $150 on a course!

Image

Kaplan Reviews

Intern
Intern
Joined: 09 May 2012
Posts: 9
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 3

Re: Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set [#permalink] New post 09 Aug 2012, 11:30
answer sgould be c.

it gives an alternate reason to why there is a 2 lock system.

b is no way the correct answer.
_________________

GMAT 1- 770(Q 51 V44)
cya ISB in 2013 !!

Intern
Intern
Joined: 05 Apr 2012
Posts: 24
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 1 [0], given: 12

Re: Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set [#permalink] New post 10 Aug 2012, 05:46
Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set of locking doors at its entrance. In the town of Inverness, on the other hand, the entrances to nearly all banks are equipped with two sets of locking doors, operated by a mechanism that allows only one set of doors to be open at a time. It is clear, then, that banks in Inverness experience more robbery attempts than do those in La Rinconada, and have thus adopted the extra doors as a security measure.

Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?

a) Last year the number of bank robberies in La Rinconada was almost one-half greater than the corresponding figure for the previous year. Incorrect - does not talk anything about the town of Inverness.
b) Inverness is known for its harsh winters, while the climate of La Rinconada is quite temperate year-round. Correct - Inverness banks have two doors to manage the temperature inside the bank and they are not specifically meant to control robbery. It has a direct effect on the conclusion.
c) The mechanism of the double doors used by banks in Inverness allows bank security personnel to lock the doors remotely. Incorrect - looks like the answer but not. Although it looks like an alternative reason, locking remotely or manually does not matter. The point does not weaken the conclusion.
d) Bank robbery attempts are typically unsuccessful, and, even when the robbers do manage to escape with stolen money, the sum is usually quite small. Incorrect - does not weaken. sum of money does not matter.
e) Inverness has almost twice as many police officers per capita as does La Rinconada. Incorrect - number of police officers does not affect the conclusion.
Intern
Intern
Joined: 24 Feb 2010
Posts: 9
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 5 [0], given: 0

Re: Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set [#permalink] New post 16 Aug 2012, 03:47
b) Inverness is known for its harsh winters, while the climate of La Rinconada is quite temperate year-round.
c) The mechanism of the double doors used by banks in Inverness allows bank security personnel to lock the doors remotely.

This is not a good question because one has to assume a lot to mark the answer as correct one.
For b, one has already mentioned that harsh climate is the reason. What if the temperature control systems are well designed to take care of a spate of cold air entering the building when the door is opened.
For C, one can assume that a small team of security teams can manage the security of the banks by remote operation of the gates. A large number of robberies can not be the only reason behind having such 2-door systems.
Intern
Intern
Joined: 06 Jul 2012
Posts: 43
Followers: 0

Kudos [?]: 3 [0], given: 36

Re: Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set [#permalink] New post 16 Aug 2012, 08:40
B clearly is the winner.

It provides different cause than that mentioned in the Premise. The author while arriving at a conclusion believe that only 1 cause can lead to the effect. If different cause is having the same intended effect, author's conclusion will gets weakened.
_________________

If you think you are lost, you are.

Intern
Intern
Joined: 03 Jan 2012
Posts: 22
Location: United States
Concentration: Leadership, Finance
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V31
GPA: 3.5
WE: Engineering (Computer Software)
Followers: 2

Kudos [?]: 2 [0], given: 5

Re: Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set [#permalink] New post 16 Aug 2012, 19:15
I guess 'c' should be the answer. B depends again on the assumption that more number of doors help temperature to be at appropriate level, and this assumption is no where clearly stated which makes it a weak link.

Whilst in c, the reason for using 2doors is clearly stated which attacks the assumption of the author. I feel c is the answer.
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 24 Mar 2010
Posts: 347
Followers: 7

Kudos [?]: 41 [0], given: 4

GMAT Tests User
Re: Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set [#permalink] New post 17 Aug 2012, 16:35
If the official answer really is B, this is a terrible question. Answer choice C gives a very plausible reason why the bank set up two doors rather than just one. For B, we have to make a huge assumption that the number of door locks is directly related to the quality of weather control inside a bank.
SVP
SVP
Status: worked for Kaplan's associates, but now on my own, free and flying
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Posts: 1972
Location: India
Followers: 129

Kudos [?]: 664 [0], given: 170

GMAT Tests User
Re: Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set [#permalink] New post 18 Aug 2012, 06:54
The point here is that the conclusion says that the double- door system is a security measure. We need to weaken this thinking. So, any choice that augments the security aspect is irrelevant. We need to look a totally different reason other than security against robbery or any such things. Therefore, B simply weighs in. We can ignore C, because it strengthens the argument that extra security measures are required in the second town
B is the correct choice
_________________

” I truly believe in online learning, I have been a student in both an Ivy League school (brick and mortar) and in an online setting and I have learned 1,000 times more in an online setting. You do not have anyone there lecturing you and then you do the work, online you are made to do it all yourself. Amazing how different the results are. - Heather(a student)”

Alicia Helle, an online student at the UW, "Obtaining my degree online has been a blessing. With two small children, I am able to work when it is convenient for my family and me. I have nothing but positive comments and experiences from my time at UW-Stout.”

Find out what's new at GMAT Club - latest features and updates

GMAT Instructor
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Posts: 973
Location: Toronto
Followers: 167

Kudos [?]: 443 [0], given: 3

GMAT Tests User
Re: Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set [#permalink] New post 19 Aug 2012, 23:13
For answer B, climate may explain why a two-door system is desirable, but it does nothing to explain why a double-locking system is desirable. Even if B is true, Inverness banks still have twice as many locks on their doors as do La Rinconada banks. So I'm not sure how B weakens the argument that Inverness banks have greater security concerns than do La Rinconada banks.

After all, the argument isn't saying "Inverness banks have two doors and La Rinconada banks only have one. Therefore Inverness banks have greater security concerns than La Rinconada banks". That would be a ridiculous argument, since it's pretty easy to walk through a door. The argument is based specifically on the fact that Inverness banks have two *locked* doors. The right answer to this question absolutely needs to address that point.

But answer C is the only other remotely plausible candidate, and to even contemplate C, I need to start making a lot of assumptions about bank security protocols. Making certain assumptions, you might be able to claim that C offers an alternative reason (besides additional security) for choosing double-locking doors. Perhaps remote lock operation leads to cost savings, or added convenience for bank personnel, and that's the reason Inverness banks chose them instead of single-locking doors. That seems extremely tenuous to me, though, so I dislike C as an answer here. But I think B is also quite a bad answer to this question if it is indeed the OA, since B only addresses a completely unimportant part of the original argument.
_________________

Nov 2011: After years of development, I am now making my advanced Quant books and high-level problem sets available for sale. Contact me at ianstewartgmat at gmail.com for details.

Private GMAT Tutor based in Toronto

Verbal GMAT Forum Moderator
Verbal GMAT Forum Moderator
User avatar
Status: Preparing for the another shot...!
Joined: 03 Feb 2011
Posts: 1322
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Marketing
GMAT 1: 720 Q V
GPA: 3.75
Followers: 63

Kudos [?]: 311 [0], given: 52

GMAT ToolKit User GMAT Tests User CAT Tests
Re: Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set [#permalink] New post 11 Jan 2013, 23:14
Either it is a very good question in which the correct answer wins by a margin or its really a bad one in which the correct answer makes a lot of assumptions.
_________________

Prepositional Phrases Clarified|Elimination of BEING| Absolute Phrases Clarified
Rules For Posting

Re: Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set   [#permalink] 11 Jan 2013, 23:14
    Similar topics Author Replies Last post
Similar
Topics:
New posts Set A, Set B, and Set C each contain only positive integers. mm007 7 20 Dec 2006, 19:38
Popular new posts 2 In the town of Snyder, Bank A and Bank B were exhibitors at Berbatov 11 26 Aug 2011, 03:13
Popular new posts 6 EXPERTS_POSTS_IN_THIS_TOPIC Town Councilor: The only reason for the town to have u0422811 16 13 Mar 2012, 21:10
New posts Q. Each of the factory towns which has pollution as a severe dc1509 3 24 Aug 2012, 08:44
New posts 3 EXPERTS_POSTS_IN_THIS_TOPIC The town of Malmo, Sweden has only two late-night food carcass 5 10 Jan 2013, 18:59
Display posts from previous: Sort by

Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set

  Question banks Downloads My Bookmarks Reviews  


GMAT Club MBA Forum Home| About| Privacy Policy| Terms and Conditions| GMAT Club Rules| Contact| Sitemap

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group and phpBB SEO

Kindly note that the GMAT® test is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council®, and this site has neither been reviewed nor endorsed by GMAC®.