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13 Aug 2024, 01:30
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D
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
55%
(hard)
Question Stats:
56% (01:28) correct
44%
(01:47)
wrong
based on 232
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
A study of business partnerships in which one partner’s management style differs from that of the other partner reveals that such partnerships are more likely be fraught with problems and to ultimately end in dissolution. Thus, mismatched management styles can seriously jeopardize a business partnership.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?
(A) Business partnerships in which both partners have the same management style also occasionally have disagreements that can jeopardize the partnership.
(B) The management style of individuals tends to vary from year to year.
(C) The individuals who have management style that differ significantly from those of their partners tend to argue little with spouses at home.
(D) Partners who are considering dissolution have been found to express hostility by adopting a different management styles from that of their partners.
(E) According to a recent study, most people’s management styles can be controlled and modified easily.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?
(A) Business partnerships in which both partners have the same management style also occasionally have disagreements that can jeopardize the partnership.
(B) The management style of individuals tends to vary from year to year.
(C) The individuals who have management style that differ significantly from those of their partners tend to argue little with spouses at home.
(D) Partners who are considering dissolution have been found to express hostility by adopting a different management styles from that of their partners.
(E) According to a recent study, most people’s management styles can be controlled and modified easily.
13 Aug 2024, 04:33
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To solve this question, let us deploy IMS's four-step technique.
STEP #1 -> IDENTIFY THE QUESTION TYPE
Let us read the question stem to identify the question type.
STEP #2 -> X-RAY THE ARGUMENT
In a weakening question, it is a must to x-ray the argument and deconstruct it. Let us therefore read the argument first and note the conclusion and the premise(s) soon after.
PREMISE: A study of business partnerships in which one partner’s management style differs from that of the other partner reveals that such partnerships are more likely be fraught with problems and to ultimately end in dissolution.
STEP #3 -> FRAME A SHADOW ANSWER
To frame a shadow answer, we need to understand what the correct answer should achieve. In this case, the correct answer must cast doubt on the conclusion, and a great way to do this is to challenge the premise.
SHADOW ANSWER: Any situation that, after having taken the premise into consideration, leads us to believe that mismatched management styles do not necessarily jeopardize a business partnership.
STEP #4 -> ELIMINATE INCORRECT OPTIONS
Options that do not match the shadow answer can be eliminated.
(A) Business partnerships in which both partners have the same management style also occasionally have disagreements that can jeopardize the partnership. | NOT A MATCH | This option tells us what can happen in business partnerships where both partners have the same management style. Any information about partners with the same management style, however, cannot tell us anything about mismatched management styles. We are looking for an option, nonetheless, that leads us to believe that mismatched management styles do not necessarily jeopardize a business partnership. | ELIMINATE
(B) The management style of individuals tends to vary from year to year. | NOT A MATCH | Let us say that the management style of individuals does tend to vary from year to year. Does that indicate mismatched management styles do not necessarily jeopardize a business partnership? Of course, not! Since we know what we are exactly looking for in the correct answer, this option can be eliminated with ease. | ELIMINATE
(C) The individuals who have management styles that differ significantly from those of their partners tend to argue little with spouses at home. | NOT A MATCH | The phrase "tend to argue little with spouses at home" makes this option irrelevant. We are not interested in knowing how individuals with differing management styles behave with their spouses. What we do want is a reason to believe that that mismatched management styles do not necessarily jeopardize a business partnership. | ELIMINATE
(D) Partners who are considering dissolution have been found to express hostility by adopting a different management styles from that of their partners. | MATCHES THE SHADOW ANSWER | If partners who are considering dissolution have actually been found to express hostility by adopting a different management styles from that of their partners, it leads us to believe that mismatched management styles are not the cause for dissolution. In fact, it is the very intent to dissolve the partnership that leads to different management styles. If what is stated in this option is true, the logical conclusion should be this: The intent to dissolve/jeopardize a business partnership induces the partners to adopt mismatched management styles. The argument is now clearly weakened. | KEEP
(E) According to a recent study, most people’s management styles can be controlled and modified easily. | Not worried about whether or not most people’s management styles can be controlled and modified easily. | ELIMINATE
Hence, (D) has to be the correct answer.
STEP #1 -> IDENTIFY THE QUESTION TYPE
Let us read the question stem to identify the question type.
Quote:
The stem indicates a weakening question.
STEP #2 -> X-RAY THE ARGUMENT
In a weakening question, it is a must to x-ray the argument and deconstruct it. Let us therefore read the argument first and note the conclusion and the premise(s) soon after.
Quote:
CONCLUSION: Mismatched management styles can seriously jeopardize a business partnership.
PREMISE: A study of business partnerships in which one partner’s management style differs from that of the other partner reveals that such partnerships are more likely be fraught with problems and to ultimately end in dissolution.
STEP #3 -> FRAME A SHADOW ANSWER
To frame a shadow answer, we need to understand what the correct answer should achieve. In this case, the correct answer must cast doubt on the conclusion, and a great way to do this is to challenge the premise.
SHADOW ANSWER: Any situation that, after having taken the premise into consideration, leads us to believe that mismatched management styles do not necessarily jeopardize a business partnership.
STEP #4 -> ELIMINATE INCORRECT OPTIONS
Options that do not match the shadow answer can be eliminated.
(A) Business partnerships in which both partners have the same management style also occasionally have disagreements that can jeopardize the partnership. | NOT A MATCH | This option tells us what can happen in business partnerships where both partners have the same management style. Any information about partners with the same management style, however, cannot tell us anything about mismatched management styles. We are looking for an option, nonetheless, that leads us to believe that mismatched management styles do not necessarily jeopardize a business partnership. | ELIMINATE
(B) The management style of individuals tends to vary from year to year. | NOT A MATCH | Let us say that the management style of individuals does tend to vary from year to year. Does that indicate mismatched management styles do not necessarily jeopardize a business partnership? Of course, not! Since we know what we are exactly looking for in the correct answer, this option can be eliminated with ease. | ELIMINATE
(C) The individuals who have management styles that differ significantly from those of their partners tend to argue little with spouses at home. | NOT A MATCH | The phrase "tend to argue little with spouses at home" makes this option irrelevant. We are not interested in knowing how individuals with differing management styles behave with their spouses. What we do want is a reason to believe that that mismatched management styles do not necessarily jeopardize a business partnership. | ELIMINATE
(D) Partners who are considering dissolution have been found to express hostility by adopting a different management styles from that of their partners. | MATCHES THE SHADOW ANSWER | If partners who are considering dissolution have actually been found to express hostility by adopting a different management styles from that of their partners, it leads us to believe that mismatched management styles are not the cause for dissolution. In fact, it is the very intent to dissolve the partnership that leads to different management styles. If what is stated in this option is true, the logical conclusion should be this: The intent to dissolve/jeopardize a business partnership induces the partners to adopt mismatched management styles. The argument is now clearly weakened. | KEEP
(E) According to a recent study, most people’s management styles can be controlled and modified easily. | Not worried about whether or not most people’s management styles can be controlled and modified easily. | ELIMINATE
Hence, (D) has to be the correct answer.
01 Sep 2024, 18:00
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Official Explanation
Correct Answer: D
If partners who are considering dissolution have been found to express hostility by adopting a different management style from that of their partners, then the different management styles are the result and not the cause of the discordance between the partners.
