Beta Corporation claims that it no longer has enough work for the 60

Question

Beta Corporation claims that it no longer has enough work for the 60 computer data-entry workers that it is laying off. These workers have heard, however, that the company is buying 100 new computers. So the workers concluded that the company's real reason for laying them off is to fill their jobs with lower-paid workers.

Which of the following, if true, would most undermine the workers' conclusion?

(A) Most of the workers being laid off know how to enter data on a number of different computer systems.

(B) Orders for almost all of Beta Corporation products have increased over the past year.

(C) A recent memorandum from the president of Beta Corporation requested that all data generated by the company be stored in computerized form.

(D) Beta Corporation's computer data-entry workers are more experienced and hence more highly paid than people doing comparable work in other companies.

(E) Beta Corporation's new computers will allow its current management and sales staff to perform many of the tasks that the data-entry workers were previously doing.

mikemcgarry · Accepted Answer

Dear iyersu , I'm happy to help. :-)

First, here's a blog on weakening the argument. https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/how-to-wea ... reasoning/ It's a fact that these data-entry workers are being laid off. They have lost their jobs. That's a fact. What's in dispute is why they were laid off. The workers assume that their old jobs will be filled by lower-paid workers. (What's lower pay than data entry is a bit curious, but we'll let that pass.) Of course, the purchase of 100 new computers fuels the worker's suspicions. Choice (C) says " A recent memorandum from the president of Beta Corporation requested that all data generated by the company be stored in computerized form ." Is this data entry? That's unclear. It may be that this data is already in some web form, and employees weren't in the habit of saving it, and the memorandum is just instructing folks: as long as you have the data on your screen anyway, you might as well save it in the computer system. That's one possibility. Or, it may be the case that Beta Corporation will hire very cheap labor to enter all this data on the new computers --- that would exactly confirm the suspicions of the workers. So that would be a strengthener, not a weakener. Of course, we don't know for sure that this latter interpretation is the case, but it's much easier to see how this choice would be a strengthener rather than a weakener, and since it can be a strengthener, it's definitely not the best weakener. Remember, on any weakener question, one or two of the wrong answers will be strengtheners, and vice versa . Choice (E) says " Beta Corporation's new computers will allow its current management and sales staff to perform many of the tasks that the data-entry workers were previously doing ." Now, this genuinely does give an alternate explanation. It's not that low-wage workers will do this work. Management will do this work --- management is most certainly not low wage! Also, sales staff will do the work. In most corporate settings, sales staff is paid quite well, whereas data-entry are the lowest of the low. Sometimes, janitors get paid more than data-entry folks. Here, the recently unemployed data-entry people were just plain wrong --- Beta did not hire a new bunch of low-wage workers. Instead, workers who were already working at Beta, and already getting paid more than the data-entry people, will absorb that extra work. This is an alternate explanation that absolutely blows holes in the worker's explanation. That's why this is the best answer. Does all this make sense? Mike :-)

pramendrapandeya · Answer

Answer is clearly E, took 45 second to answer

Beta Corporation's new computers will allow its current management and sales staff to perform many of the tasks that the data-entry workers were previously doing. --(They are being laid of because the work that was being performed by them can be done by these computers)

celo700 · Answer

Which of the following, if true, would most undermine the workers' conclusion?

Worker's conclusion: The real reason the workers are being laid off is that they are being replaced with lower paid workers. Any option that says the workers are not being replaced with lower pay workers will be the right answer.

This option does not disprove the worker's belief.

This option does not disprove the conclusion that new workers are being brought in at low wages to replace old workers.

Does not disprove the conclusion that new workers are being brought in at low wages to replace old workers.

The information that the data-entry workers are highly paid compared to other companies workers (for similar job) does not tell us whether no new workers are brought in.

This option states that no new workers are being hired to replace the old one. Already existing staff will perform the tasks of the workers.

sahilhafnia · Answer

The passage is about misconception in the minds of data entry workers. They have concluded that they will be replaced by low wage workers for the 100 computers that the company is going to buy. It looks like they have assumed that the computers being bought are similar to the ones they have been working on. If this is actually the case, then their conclusion has strength. But if this is not the case, the conclusion could be doubted.

Also what if we get to know that the company is going to spend more in the future than today by removing these workers. In such a situation ,the conclusion would weaken.

Looking at options :

1) This option tells us about the flexibility of the workers. It adds to their value for sure and testifies that removing them is not a good thing after all for the company. But these talents do not tell us why the company is planning to remove them from work. May be the company doesn't need their talent. Its hard to determine the link between this option and the conclusion. I believe this option is incorrect because it doesn't impact the conclusion in anyway.

2) Orders from customers of the company have increased. I am able to infer that may be that is the reason behind buying more computers and new ones. But then, why to remove the presently employed workers. Unable to decipher the link. Incorrect choice.

3) The recent memoranda is only telling us that now the data entry operators have to do more work. But then why to remove them when you need them more. If we think a little more, we can relate and discover that may be yes, the intention of the company might be to get more people onboard for the increased work load, more so if they come at lower wages. This option strengthens the conclusion mildly.

4) This option increases our belief in what the workers have concluded. If these people were experienced and higher paid than other similar workers in other companies, it is very much possible that the company is planning to reduce its salary costs.

5) If the computers will allow the company staff to do more work with less energy and manpower, it supports their logical decision of removing the data entry workers. In such a case, it is difficult to agree with what the workers have concluded. This option is a possible weaken statement.

Answer should be E.

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Beta Corporation claims that it no longer has enough work for the 60

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