{"id":22117,"date":"2013-12-27T07:00:27","date_gmt":"2013-12-27T14:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2013\/12\/using-common-knowledge-on-gmat-critical-reasoning\/"},"modified":"2013-12-27T07:00:27","modified_gmt":"2013-12-27T14:00:27","slug":"using-common-knowledge-on-gmat-critical-reasoning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/using-common-knowledge-on-gmat-critical-reasoning\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Common Knowledge on GMAT Critical Reasoning"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\"Using<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n

\n\t\t\"GMAT<\/a>Here is a very simple argument:<\/p>\n

A - B = C. Over time, A has increased. Therefore, C has increased.<\/em><\/p>\n

If the argument seems simplistic, that's because it is\u2014it's not very test-like or very challenging. It gives evidence about changes in A and concludes about a change in C; the assumption (the missing piece necessary for the conclusion to be logical) is that B has not also increased. After all, if A went up but B went up as well, who knows what C will turn out to be!<\/p>\n

But this simple example underlines a pattern that can turn into big points on Critical Reasoning questions. The GMAT<\/a> testmakers expect students to understand certain common knowledge. And some of that common knowledge takes the form of simple three-part equations just like the one above. For instance:<\/p>\n

Revenue \u2013 Cost = Profit<\/strong><\/p>\n

Price * Sales = Revenue<\/strong><\/p>\n

Imports \u2013 Exports = Trade Deficit<\/strong><\/p>\n

Spending \u2013 Revenue = Budget Deficit<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wage * Time Worked =\u00a0 Total Salary<\/strong><\/p>\n

A very common Critical Reasoning argument is to state that, based on evidence of a change of only one<\/em> of the terms on the left, the term on the right must also change. The assumption, as we just saw, is that a change to the other<\/em> left-hand term won't counteract the effects of the first. Keep your eyes peeled for this opportunity to quickly increase your accuracy and timing on the Verbal section<\/a>. Try to spot the problem in the following question:<\/p>\n

Increasingly, American businesses requiring customer service phone lines have been utilizing overseas companies that can provide these services at extremely reduced rates.\u00a0 Toll-free calls are routed to countries like India, where low-paid workers have been trained to deal with most of the typical problems consumers have with their credit cards, online services, and computer equipment. Since the companies using these overseas call centers are saving so much money, they will undoubtedly show higher profits than companies that do not.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?<\/strong><\/p>\n