An advertisement for E-News, a subscription-only online newspaper with

Question

An advertisement for E-News, a subscription-only online newspaper with no ads accompanying its content, argued that individuals should subscribe to E-News so as to eliminate wasted time that results from seeing and ignoring advertisements while attempting to read newspapers that feature ads.

Which of the following, if true, most severely weakens E-News' argument?

A) Individuals who currently read only print newspapers are much less likely to enjoy a subscription news website without first learning about reading online news through a free news website.

B) Free ad-sponsored news websites and blogs offer more content than E-News.

C) E-News partners with other e-content providers, many of which always show numerous ads alongside their content.

D) For regions of the country that lack adequate internet coverage, switching to an online subscription website is not logical.

E) E-News recently announced it would sell some of its content to ad-supported websites and print newspapers.

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cdrectenwald · Answer

I like C here

This weakens the argument because it suggests that even though E-News itself may not show ads, users may still be exposed to ads through the content provided by its partners. This undermines the claim that subscribing to E-News would eliminate the time wasted on seeing and ignoring advertisements.

Posted from my mobile device

mihirtiwari90 · Answer

Can someone help me understand how is it 'C'?

Neither do we have any mentions about 'partnerships with E-Content providers', nor do we know whether they 'always show ads alongside or not'. Seems like out-of-scope information.

Madhvendrasinh · Answer

I understand your reasoning and I just loved option C, but how do we know that the partnership with other content providers means that their content will be seen on the E-news plateform. I elliminated C becuase the partners might have their own different websites that can show advertisements there and be a partner on backend or something other then the final content.

Isn't it a little blur that it is only written that E-news "partners".

SirSanguine · Answer

Bunuel  
Official explanaqtion please.
I dont quite agree with C.

sherlocked221B · Answer

An advertisement for E-News, a subscription-only online newspaper with no ads accompanying its content, argued that individuals should subscribe to E-News so as to eliminate wasted time that results from seeing and ignoring advertisements while attempting to read newspapers that feature ads.

Which of the following, if true, most severely weakens E-News' argument?

A) Individuals who currently read only print newspapers are much less likely to enjoy a subscription news website without first learning about reading online news through a free news website.    ( Most suitable answer  - The option says people cannot enjoy subscription news without learning about reading online news, this directly weakens the argument saying the experience is unmatched to print newspapers even with no ads for E-News)

B)  Free ad-sponsored news websites and blogs offer more content than E-News.  (Tricky but irrelevant because it does not address the experience of having ad-free news)

C) E-News partners with  other e-content providers, many of which always show numerous ads  alongside their content. (Irrelevant; how does it matter if other e-content providers are sharing content with ads.  Does not guarantee E-News does the same, so eliminating C. )

D)  For regions of the country that lack adequate internet coverage, switching to an online subscription website is not logical.  (Irrelevant; doesn't address E-News negatives anywhere)

E) E-News recently announced it  would sell some of its content to ad-supported websites and print newspapers.  (Irrelevant; if its content to other websites or print newspaper, we have no reason to say it weakens the argument why people should buy E-News, a subscription-only online newspaper with no ads)

Bunuel   KarishmaB   b_sudharsan   MartyMurray  - Could you please share your solution for this? Thank you!

bronaugust · Answer

Hi,  sherlocked221B!

I am told this question is from a KPMG aptitude test. Since KPMG aptitude tests do not adhere to the GMAC logic, I needed to understand the mindset of the person who created this question. Understanding the mindset behind a question on an aptitude test can definitely be a bit tricky, especially when the question does not fit neatly into conventional logic categories. Here is how you might approach such a question:

Understand the context:  Try to grasp the broader context or scenario the question is set in. Often, the wording or scenario provides clues about what kind of thinking or reasoning is expected. Consider any specific instructions or examples provided with the question. 
  Identify key elements:  Break down the question into its core components. Identify the main elements or variables involved. Look for any patterns, relationships, or constraints that might be relevant. 
  Consider different perspectives:  Since the question might deviate from standard logic, think about it from multiple angles. Sometimes unconventional questions require lateral thinking or creative problem-solving rather than straightforward application of known methods. 
  Practice flexibility:  Be open to different types of solutions. Aptitude tests may include questions that test abstract reasoning or test your ability to apply logic in novel ways. Practice flexibility in your thinking and be prepared to adapt your approach. 
  Verify assumptions:  Make sure to verify any assumptions you make while solving the question. Sometimes test questions are designed to challenge your assumptions or require you to question common beliefs. 
  Check for ambiguities:  If you sense ambiguity in the question, identify any possible interpretations and consider how each might affect your approach. Clarify any uncertainties by considering the most logical or likely meaning in the given context. 
  Review and reflect:  After attempting to answer the question, review your reasoning process. Reflect on whether the answer makes sense given the information provided and if it aligns with the context of the question.

Now, let us deploy  IMS's four-step technique  to solve this question.

STEP #1   ->  IDENTIFY THE QUESTION TYPE

Let us read the question stem to identify the question type.
 
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 deconstruct it by figuring out the conclusion and the premise(s) soon after.
 
 CONCLUSION:  Individuals should subscribe to E-News.
 PREMISE:  Subscribing to E-News eliminates wasted time that results from seeing and ignoring advertisements while attempting to read newspapers that feature ads.

STEP #3   ->  FRAME A SHADOW ANSWER

To frame a shadow answer, we need to know what the correct answer should do. In this question, the correct answer must cast doubt on the conclusion, and a great way to do so is to challenge the premise.

SHADOW ANSWER:  Any situation that, after having taken the premise into consideration, leads us to believe that individuals should not subscribe to E-News.

STEP #4   ->  ELIMINATE INCORRECT OPTIONS

Options that do not match the shadow answer can be eliminated.

A) Individuals who currently read only print newspapers are much less likely to enjoy a subscription news website without first learning about reading online news through a free news website. |  NOT A MATCH  |  If individuals who currently read only print newspapers are much less likely to enjoy a subscription news website without first learning about reading online news through a free news website, it leads us to believe that they may be more likely to enjoy a subscription news website after they learn about reading online news. Clearly, we do not have any reason to believe that individuals (in general, not just the ones who read only print newspapers) should not subscribe to E-News.  |  ELIMINATE

B) Free ad-sponsored news websites and blogs offer more content than E-News. |  NOT A MATCH  |  Our focus is not on content here. The point is that E-News has argued in an advertisement that individuals should subscribe to it so as to eliminate wasted time that results from seeing and ignoring advertisements while attempting to read newspapers that feature ads. Even if free ad-supported news websites and blogs had more content than E-News, one would still have to sift through lots of ads to access it, and subscribing to E-News could help one save time. Again, we do not have any reason to believe that individuals should not subscribe to E-News.  |  ELIMINATE

C) E-News partners with other e-content providers, many of which always show numerous ads alongside their content. |  MATCHES THE SHADOW ANSWER  |  Note that this option reveals E-News's hypocrisy. On the one hand, E-News advertises that individuals should subscribe to it because doing so eliminates wasted time that results from seeing and ignoring advertisements while attempting to read newspapers that feature ads. On the other hand, it itself partners with other e-content providers, many of which always show numerous ads alongside their content. Now, we have a valid reason to believe that individuals should not subscribe to E-News. Also, notice that this option directly challenges the premise by exposing a contradiction: E-News claims to reduce ad-related wasted time, yet it partners with ad-supported providers. The argument thereby is effectively weakened since E-News itself is involved in ad-supported content.  |  KEEP

D) For regions of the country that lack adequate internet coverage, switching to an online subscription website is not logical. |  NOT A MATCH  |  Not worried about whether or not switching to an online subscription website is logical in regions of the country that lack adequate internet coverage, for it does not lead us to believe that individuals should not subscribe to E-News.  |  ELIMINATE

E) E-News recently announced it would sell some of its content to ad-supported websites and print newspapers. |  NOT A MATCH  |  If E-News has to resort to selling some of its content to ad-supported websites and print newspapers, it gives more of a reason to individuals to support E-News by subscribing to it in order that it may retain its content. However, we are looking for an option that gives us a reason to believe that individuals should not subscribe to E-News.  |  ELIMINATE

Hence, (C) is the correct answer.

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

E-News argues that its subscription service will eliminate the presence of all ads for individuals attempting to read the news. The advertisement implies that this is appealing to news readers since it saves them time. However, there are possible problems with this argument. For example, if E-News partnered with other online content providers, who themselves served up ads, the user would not truly avoid advertisements and would still waste time "seeing and ignoring advertisements while attempting to read."

A. This answer pertains to enjoying reading a news website while the original argument centers on avoiding the "wasted time" that comes from seeing and ignoring advertisements.

B. The original argument centers around "wasted time" not volume of content. Consequently, this answer weakens a point (volume of content) that serves as no support or justification for the original argument (which is based upon "wasted time").

C. Since users of E-News will not be able to entirely (or perhaps even considerably) "eliminate wasted time that results from seeing and ignoring advertisements" since these ads will be part of the online newspaper reading experience through the content network, the argument that users should sign up in order "to eliminate" ads is weakened.

D. This answer does not weaken the crux of the original argument (i.e., avoiding ads eliminates "wasted time"). The original argument is not weakened, it is simply deemed irrelevant to a certain portion of the country.

E. This does not weaken the argument about the user's experience and ability to save time with E-News. The original argument pertains to signing up with E-News in order to save time and this answer does not pertain to signing up with E-News.

vishwajeet112 · Answer

By c they indicate they also engaged in extra time consuming action as mentioned in option C
Therefore it's actually weakening
But your reasoning is more like that others partners are also also include in the E news subscription but that doesn't gave any confined point.

vishwajeet112 · Answer

Conclusion - E news not want to time getting waste for their online reader actually this is whole conclusion.
A) it's talking about individuals not E news or not respected to E news so not ans
B)it's talking about ad sponsored news that doesn't related to E news so not ans
C) as my conclusion, they are engaging in providing ad sponsered content also and imply that they also engaged in time consuming activity therefore it's Weakening it good and.
D)out of context 
E)in this option they are selling but therefore they not provide to any reason to get engaged in the time consuming activity.
If any in above reasoning just notify.

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An advertisement for E-News, a subscription-only online newspaper with

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