{"id":33788,"date":"2016-07-19T07:02:57","date_gmt":"2016-07-19T14:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2016\/07\/land-your-score-critical-reasoning-cases\/"},"modified":"2016-07-19T07:02:57","modified_gmt":"2016-07-19T14:02:57","slug":"land-your-score-critical-reasoning-cases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/land-your-score-critical-reasoning-cases\/","title":{"rendered":"Land Your Score: Critical Reasoning Cases"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Follow<\/a><\/p>\n

Jennifer Land explains how to find answer choices for three special cases of Critical Reasoning.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Fortunately for savvy test-takers, GMAT Critical Reasoning questions fall into predictable patterns. Certain argument constructions are used the same way from test to test, and recognizing them makes landing your highest score easier. Here are three special cases you might see on Test Day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Case #1: weaken causality arguments<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A common Critical Reasoning argument construction is that X caused Y. The Tree Toppler chainsaw has seen a dip in sales <\/span>because<\/b> a talk-show host is making fun of its name. Studies have shown married people are happier than unmarried people; thus marriage <\/span>causes<\/b> happiness.<\/span><\/p>\n

GMAT causality arguments almost always rest on the same assumption: <\/span>there is no other cause<\/b> for the phenomenon. To <\/span>weaken<\/b> a causality argument, <\/span>show there is another possible cause<\/b>. Perhaps the Tree Toppler had been unfavorably reviewed by the majority of online purchasers; that would be a reason for sales to decrease. <\/span><\/p>\n

To <\/span>strengthen<\/b> the argument, <\/span>show that the cited cause is likely correct<\/b>. If data suggest sales were high until the talk-show host\u2019s ridicule began and then began to decrease, perhaps the talk-show host IS responsible for the declining sales.<\/span><\/p>\n

Case #2: population representativeness<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Critical Reasoning prompts often refer to a study or survey. In these cases, the argument often relies on the group being studied or surveyed being <\/span>representative<\/b> of the broader population. In the \u201cmarriage causes happiness\u201d example, the participants in the \u201cstudies\u201d referred to are assumed to be representative of ALL married and unmarried people. Otherwise, the comparison is illogical.<\/span><\/p>\n

If an argument claims, \u201cExit polls show the incumbent candidate will win,\u201d the assumption is that the people polled after were a representative sample of the total voting population. To <\/span>weaken<\/b> a representativeness argument, show that <\/span>the group studied is not representative of the whole population<\/b>. If only voters of a certain demographic in one precinct participated in the exit polls, their responses would not be representative of all voters. <\/span><\/p>\n

To <\/span>strengthen<\/b> such an argument, look for an answer choice that <\/span>confirms the studied group is representative of the larger population<\/b>. If the participants in the exit polls were from all precincts and matched the demographics of the larger population of voters, then applying the poll results to the overall group would be appropriate and the argument would be strengthened.<\/span><\/p>\n

Case #3: critical reasoning about the future<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The final special case of Critical Reasoning arguments comprises plans, predictions, and proposals. These arguments are centered around something happening in the future:<\/span><\/p>\n