12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 12: It will not be product

Question

12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition with Lots of Fun

It will not be productive for the trading vessel the Selene to hire three new disciplinary officers, as proposed. The ship’s operational budget is sufficient to pay the salaries of the new officers, but not the salaries of additional legal and bureaucratic employees needed to process the increased number of infractions typically generated by new officers.

Which of the following, if true, will most seriously weaken the conclusion drawn above?

A. Studies have shown that having more disciplinary officers on board does not necessarily improve discipline among shipmates.

B. When another trading vessel of the same size as the Selene increased its number of disciplinary officers by twenty percent last year, there were forty-two percent more disciplinary infractions, and of them, twelve percent required legal action.

C. The Selene’s crew has reached the size at which an increase in the number of disciplinary officers will have a corrective effect on the discipline among shipmates.

D. On most ships, not every disciplinary infraction leads to punitive action, and not every punitive action necessitates legal proceedings.

E. If the funding needed to expand the crew of the Selene is increased, the budget of other ships in the company’s fleet will have to be reduced during the next fiscal year.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Expert's Global Official Explanation

Mind-map:  Trading vessel plans to hire three new disciplinary officers (DO) --> new DO usually generate infractions --> enough budget for DO salaries --> not enough budget for salaries of legal and bureaucratic employees required to process infractions --> the plan will not be productive (conclusion)

Missing-link:  Between all the information presented and the conclusion that the plan will not be productive

Expectation from the correct answer choice:  To suggest that the plan may be productive

A. This answer choice, suggesting that adding new disciplinary officers may not necessarily improve discipline, indicates that there will likely be  more infractions  generated and so a  stronger need for new legal and bureaucratic employees ; such a scenario, if anything,  marginally strengthens, rather than weakens , the conclusion that the plan will not be productive. Because this answer choice does not weaken the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.

B. This answer choice, providing evidence that, in another trading vessel, the addition of disciplinary officers led to an increase in infractions and legal action, indicates that, if the plan is followed, there will likely be  more infractions  and so a  stronger need for new legal and bureaucratic employees ; such a scenario, if anything,  strengthens, rather than weakens , the conclusion that the plan will not be productive. Because this answer choice does not weaken the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.

C. Correct.  By suggesting that the addition of new disciplinary officers is likely to improve discipline, this answer choice indicates that there will likely be  fewer infractions  generated and hence,  additional legal and bureaucratic employees may not be necessary ; so, this answer choice suggests that the plan may be productive and weakens the conclusion. Because this answer choice weakens the conclusion, this answer choice is correct.

D. Trap. This answer choice, suggesting that not every disciplinary infraction leads to punitive action and legal proceedings, leaves open the possibility of a proportion of  additional disciplinary infractions leading to additional legal proceedings  and, if anything,  marginally strengthens, rather than weakens , the conclusion that the plan will not be productive. Because this answer choice does not weaken the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.

E. The argument is concerned with the effect of the plan of hiring new disciplinary officers on the budget of Selene; so, the effect of the plan on the  budget of other ships is out of scope . Additionally, the argument mentions that the ship’s operational budget is sufficient to pay the salaries of the new officers; so, whether the budget of other ships needs to be reduced is out of scope. Because this answer choice does not weaken the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.

C is the best choice.

gmatophobia · Answer

Conclusion : It will not be productive for the trading vessel the Selene to hire three new disciplinary officers due to the lack of operational budget for additional legal and bureaucratic employees

A. Studies have shown that having more disciplinary officers on board does not necessarily improve discipline among shipmates.
 
Provides no information to weaken the argument.

B. When another trading vessel of the same size as the Selene increased its number of disciplinary officers by twenty percent last year, there were forty-two percent more disciplinary infractions, and of them, twelve percent required legal action.

Strengthens the author's argument. Increase in disciplinary officers may lead to increase in legal action.

C. The Selene’s crew has reached the size at which an increase in the number of disciplinary officers will have a corrective effect on the discipline among shipmates.

Weaken's the authors argument. If the discipline among shipmates increases the number of infractions will go down.

D. On most ships, not every disciplinary infraction leads to punitive action, and not every punitive action necessitates legal proceedings.

Even if not every disciplinary infraction leads to punitive action, some disciplinary infraction may lead to legal proceedings.

E. If the funding needed to expand the crew of the Selene is increased, the budget of other ships in the company’s fleet will have to be reduced during the next fiscal year.

Out of Scope

IMO - C

sj296 · Answer

Premise: 
1. The ship’s operational budget is sufficient to pay the salaries of the new officers
2. but the operational budget is not sufficient to pay the salaries of additional legal and bureaucratic employees needed to process the increased number of infractions typically generated by new officers

Conclusion:
1. It will not be productive for the trading vessel to hire three new disciplinary officers, as proposed.

Question type: Weaken the conclusion

Pre-thinking: We have to look for new information within the scope of the argument that suggests that by hiring disciplinary officers number of infractions will not increase and hence the cost associated with them.

A.  Studies have shown that having more disciplinary officers on board does not necessarily improve discipline among shipmates. ....................This is a generic statement that may or may not be valid in the context of the argument. Moreover, it supports the conclusion in a way instead of weakening it. Reject this option.

B.  When another trading vessel of the same size as the Selene increased its number of disciplinary officers by twenty percent last year, there were forty-two percent more disciplinary infractions, and of them, twelve percent required legal action. ............................Again, this option says that the number of infractions increased in another trading vessel after hiring disciplinary officers. It's not weakening the conclusion. Reject it.

C.  The Selene’s crew has reached the size at which an increase in the number of disciplinary officers will have a corrective effect on the discipline among shipmates ........................................if it is true then the concern regarding the number of infractions will not be there and hence the concern regarding the increased legal fees. This weakens the conclusion. Keep it.

D.  On most ships, not every disciplinary infraction leads to punitive action, and not every punitive action necessitates legal proceedings. .........................................We are talking about the overall number of infractions. Not about particular infractions which lead to punitive action. This doesn't weaken the conclusion. Reject it.

E.  If the funding needed to expand the crew of the Selene is increased, the budget of other ships in the company’s fleet will have to be reduced during the next fiscal year. ...................................This is out of scope. It doesn't weaken the conclusion. Reject it.

IMO OA should be option C.

sunitapandey · Answer

IMO C 
C. The Selene’s crew has reached the size at which an increase in the number of disciplinary officers will have a corrective effect on the discipline among shipmates. -- This is the only option that weakens the belief in the conclusion, as it says that hiring new officials is beneficial.

behlmanmeet · Answer

It will not be productive for the trading vessel Selene to hire three new disciplinary officers, as proposed. The ship’s operational budget is sufficient to pay the salaries of the new officers, but not the salaries of additional legal and bureaucratic employees needed to process the increased number of infractions typically generated by new officers.

Which of the following, if true, will most seriously weaken the conclusion drawn above?

Solution:

The conclusion stresses or puts emphasis on the productivity aspect of the new hiring of the three new disciplinary officers. But what does productivity mean and how does the author view or measure it. For the premise, the author states the extra cost the hiring would have or how will it add to expenses typically associated with hiring new officers. But the author never mentions the positives or how the hiring might add to revenue or how it might even cover its costs. Our answer will probably aim for this aspect.

A. Studies have shown that having more disciplinary officers on board does not necessarily improve discipline among shipmates.:  If anything, this strengthens the conclusion. We need to weaken it. It goes in the opposite direction.

B. When another trading vessel of the same size as the Selene increased its number of disciplinary officers by twenty percent last year, there were forty-two percent more disciplinary infractions, and of them, twelve percent required legal action.:  This definitely is a strengthener, we need to show how the new hiring might be a productive or a good measure. This option solidifies the negative aspects.

C. The Selene’s crew has reached the size at which an increase in the number of disciplinary officers will have a corrective effect on the discipline among shipmates.:  This is positive, it can help prove that the new hiring is needed and will have a corrective impact.

D. On most ships, not every disciplinary infraction leads to punitive action, and not every punitive action necessitates legal proceedings.:  This might look like a soft weakener but is still too general and vague. A case of most ships does help but what if The Selene has specific requirements and might not fit into the general most ships scenario. Also not every disciplinary infraction leads to punitive action, and not every punitive action necessitates legal proceedings, do we need it to be not every disciplinary infraction and not every punitive action. Not every can also mean most disciplinary infractions and most punitive actions.

E. If the funding needed to expand the crew of the Selene is increased, the budget of other ships in the company’s fleet will have to be reduced during the next fiscal year.:  This shows a way to cover the cost of new hiring but has no relevance to the conclusion.

Thus, the answer is C.

iamvc07 · Answer

The sentence starts with conc: It will not be productive for the ship to hire three new disciplinary officers.
Premise: let's see how this is built:
- The ship has a sufficient budget to pay the salaries of new officers
- The new officers will generate an increased number of infractions
- The increased number of infractions requires additional L&B emp
- But no budget for additional L&B emp
- So, the author concludes, it is unproductive to hire three new DO

Pre-thinking: If we show that hiring the three new DO will actually be productive, the conclusion will be weakened.

A. Studies have shown that having more disciplinary officers on board does not necessarily improve discipline among shipmates.  Incorrect. This actually strengthens the conclusion that it will be unproductive to have more DO

B. When another trading vessel of the same size as the Selene increased its number of disciplinary officers by twenty percent last year, there were forty-two percent more disciplinary infractions, and of them, twelve percent required legal action.  Incorrect. This strengthens the conclusion. If an increase in the number of DO led to increase in infraction, it would need more L&B emp.

C. The Selene’s crew has reached the size at which an increase in the number of disciplinary officers will have a corrective effect on the discipline among shipmates.  Correct. This option shows that having additional DO will have a positive effect and it will be productive

D. On most ships, not every disciplinary infraction leads to punitive action, and not every punitive action necessitates legal proceedings.  Incorrect. This may be a trap answer. Firstly, it generalizes by saying "most ships". It does not mean whatever happens on most ships will happen on the Selene. Secondly, if not every infraction leads to punitive action, some will definitely lead to. Then, if not every punitive action requires legal proceedings, some will require. This means, it will require additional L&B employees and the ship cannot pay additional salaries

E. If the funding needed to expand the crew of the Selene is increased, the budget of other ships in the company’s fleet will have to be reduced during the next fiscal year.  Incorrect. Funding and its consequences are out of scope

C is the answer

Sushen · Answer

Question Type: Weaken

Technique: 
1.  Identify the conclusion.  Stick to the conclusion like it is gold, however this time you must find a way to pull the argument apart or make it not make as much sense with the added piece of information in the answer.

2. Pull out  premises  to find something that is being compared or connected and separate them. Break a cause an effect.

3.  Give a general prediction  of what the answer will "sound like."

Go time:

Conclusion:  It will not be productive for the trading vessel the Selene to hire three new disciplinary officers, as proposed.

Premises:  Operational budget not big enough for officers AND their help.
Why?
More infractions will occur. So more staff will be needed with the new officers.

Predict: We need an answer that makes getting the new officers "productive/feasible in cost."  
Examples: (specific predictions are not as helpful as general predictions.) 
--The increased number of infractions will pay enough fines to make it "productive."
--Any other reason that it WILL make it worthwhile (financially to stay within the argument.) to get the new officers

A. Studies have shown that having more disciplinary officers on board  does not necessarily improve discipline among shipmates .
 This would mean that the new staff help would be needed for the new officers. This continues to have as many infractions. Not a weakener.

B. When another trading vessel of the same size as the Selene increased its number of disciplinary officers by twenty percent last year, there were forty-two percent more disciplinary infractions, and of them, twelve percent required legal action.
 More infractions need more staff. This does not weaken it.

C. The Selene’s crew has reached the size at which an increase in  the number of disciplinary officers will have a corrective effect   on the discipline among shipmates.
Oh, less infractions... This weakens the argument. If there are more officers and that causes less infractions then perhaps less staff/less cost for the officers would be needed. This is it!

D. On most ships, not every disciplinary infraction leads to punitive action, and not every punitive action necessitates legal proceedings.
 This has no effect that we are notified of that this would mean less cost/less staff. Intuitively, this is NOT a weakener. With more officers and this information, one would infer that there would still be more infractions to process and therefore more staff required. Not a weakener.

E. If the funding needed to expand the crew of the Selene is increased, the budget of other ships in the company’s fleet will have to be reduced during the next fiscal year.
 This has no effect on whether or not we can reach the conclusion or are hampered in doing so. Irrelevant. Not a weakener.

C is the answer.

VerbalBot · Answer

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12 Days of Christmas GMAT Competition - Day 12: It will not be product

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