aniec wrote:
Travel agents are market intermediaries who make their living by gathering, organizing, and dispensing information about travel-related services that is not readily available to most consumers. Through new information technologies, such as the internet much of this information can now be made directly available to consumers. Demand for the services of travel agents will be drastically reduced
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
A. Travel agents routinely use the internet and other new information technologies as sources for the information they obtain for their customers.
B. The amount of information available through the internet and other new information technologies is increasing
faster than the capabilities of most consumers to process it
C. Many people use travel-related services, such as airlines and hotels without consulting a travel agent.
D. The people who currently use the services of travel agents are also those most likely to gain access to new
information technologies
E. The internet and other new information technologies are currently used by a relatively small proportion of the
population
This is a very beautiful GMAT question, which has a lot of traps.
Where are the traps? The GMAT likes using qualifiers to lure test takers into traps. So what are the qualifiers here? Present and future.
The conclusion states, "Demand for the services of travel agents will be drastically reduced."
We are asked to WEAKEN the question. But read the conclusion carefully. We are talking about the FUTURE. Any answer choice that DOES NOT address the FUTURE is wrong. Now look at these answer choices:
D. The people who currently use the services of travel agents are also those most likely to gain access to new
information technologies --- This may be true. But does it affect the conclusion that the demand for services WILL BE (FUTURE) will be drastically reduced?
E. The internet and other new information technologies are currently used by a relatively small proportion of the
population --- This may be true. But does it affect the conclusion that the demand for services WILL BE (FUTURE) will be drastically reduced?
Do not get me wrong. During my early prep I always made this error. Seems to me this is one of GMAC's favourite traps.
What are other examples of this? I wrote them in my notebook. The pattern in questions (
OG, GMAT PREP, Exam Pack, everything!) is just too obvious.
Conclusion: talks about strength of the wooden sled (this is from
OG, I will not forget this question)
Wrong answer choice: correct but talks about plastic sled (very tempting)
Conclusion: talks about sales
Wrong answer choice: correct but talks about profitability
Conclusion: talks about market share
Wrong answer choice: correct but talks about costs
Conclusion: talks about future viability of growing cotton plants (this is from GMAT Prep)
Wrong answer choice: correct but talks about soy plants (remember this answer choice?)
KUDOS for being passionate?