Children who attended private high schools may initially

Question

Children who attended private high schools may initially feel that they can succeed without doing the work required, but as they grow older, they realise the necessity of serious study. each year the overwhelming majority of students disciplined for plagiarism and cheating on their exams is found in the freshman class.

The argument above would be most weakened if which of the foll. were true?
 a. As they move up in grade students learn how o cheat without getting caught.
b. First time offenders in plagiarism and cheating on exams are not disciplined.
c. The proctors for freshman exams are least vigilant.
d. Acts of vandalism are most often committed by members of the sophomore class.
e. Public school students are no less likely than private school students to believethat they can succeed in life without working hard.

cooldude2281 · Answer

Ans A..
all other out of scope

rchadha · Answer

What about E......doesn't that sound tempting to you?
How do you determine A?

KristinHR · Answer

A is my choice too.

E has nothing to do with the passage. The passage is comparing 2 groups within a private highschool. Any information about public school is irrelevant and out of scope.

lvb250 · Answer

Agree, definitely A. 

Its the only one that weakens the conclusion that the author makes. The author is giving the example of people getting caught as the reason for doing their work while in High School. However, if students, 'as they grow older' learn how to cheat without getting caught, there would be no reason for serious study and thus his canclusion falls apart.

bono · Answer

Hey, rchadha, what's the OA?

My initial answer is (E) but I am a little confused bv (A) argumentation.

lvb250 · Answer

Hey Bono,

I too was tempted by E first, but its not correct as it doesn nothing to undermine the conclusion. All it says is that public students are similar to private student. If anything that just strengthen the conclusion that the author make, so as to extend that arguement to public students. However, in this case it is outside the scope of the argument and certaintly doesnt weaken it.

junojuno · Answer

Although E might weaken the passage, answer A weaken it the most. I think :roll:

jamesrwrightiii · Answer

It's E.

The conclusion of the passage is in the first sentence.
It is inferring that private school students are more likely to cheat.
E is saying that there is no difference between public and private schools.

Why would A weaken anything? If students started to learn how to cheat early on in their academic settings, they shouldn't be getting caught starting in 9th grade.

rchadha · Answer

All the E guys sorry to disappoint but the OA is A. Thats why I got Stumped!!!!!!!!!

popew626 · Answer

In this argument you need to attack the authors conclusion. He concludes that private school students MUST be learning the value of serious study BECAUSE there are less students  caught  caught cheating. His assumption is that ALL students who are cheating are caught. 

Answer A completely undermines the argument. 

E is a trick answer because ETS is hoping you'll bite on the "private school students."

Children who attended private high schools may initially

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards