Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 14:15 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 14:15
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,390
Own Kudos:
778,358
 [5]
Given Kudos: 99,977
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,390
Kudos: 778,358
 [5]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
4
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
winterschool
User avatar
Verbal Chat Moderator
Joined: 20 Mar 2018
Last visit: 15 Nov 2025
Posts: 1,891
Own Kudos:
1,657
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,681
Posts: 1,891
Kudos: 1,657
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
mSKR
Joined: 14 Aug 2019
Last visit: 10 Mar 2024
Posts: 1,290
Own Kudos:
938
 [1]
Given Kudos: 381
Location: Hong Kong
Concentration: Strategy, Marketing
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V29
GPA: 3.81
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V29
Posts: 1,290
Kudos: 938
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
karnavora1
Joined: 29 Feb 2020
Last visit: 07 Sep 2025
Posts: 78
Own Kudos:
98
 [1]
Given Kudos: 13
Location: India
Concentration: Marketing, International Business
GMAT 1: 600 Q42 V31
Products:
GMAT 1: 600 Q42 V31
Posts: 78
Kudos: 98
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Cleverworks has designed SpongeFloor, a layer of flooring made up of synthetic material that is placed below traditional kitchen flooring. Cleverworks believes that SpongeFloor will protect the kitchen flooring of homes prone to flooding, since SpongeFloor can absorb significant amounts of water that would otherwise ruin flooring.

Which of the following, if true, calls into question Cleverwork's clain regarding the efficacy of SpongeFloor?


(A) SpongeFloor is able to absorb only about 95% of the water that comes in cantact with kitchen flooring.
Incorrect - The passage says that it absorbs significant amount of water, 95% is significant, doesn't help weaken the argument.

(B) Wood and laminate flooring is extremely porous, meaning they are often permanently damaged in the event of a flood.
Incorrect - We don't know what kind of flooring is used in the kitchens and doesn't talk about efficacy of the product.

(C) A small amount of space between SpongeFloor and kitchen flooring ensures that any water SpongeFloor absorbs will not come in contact with kitchen flooring.
Incorrect - This strengthens the argument.

(D) Materials used to create SpongeFloor are derived from a variety of other synthetic products, some of which do not provide the absorrptive qualities that Cleverworks claims SpongeFLoor possessses.
Incorrect - Irrelevant because the product absorbs significant amounts of water.

(E) Water that is absorbed by SpongeFloor is prone to collecting mold, which causes extensive damage to kitchen flooring
Correct - This is a clear winner, Spongefloor collects mold which will cause damage to the flooring.
User avatar
SohGMAT2020
Joined: 04 May 2020
Last visit: 24 Oct 2025
Posts: 240
Own Kudos:
415
 [2]
Given Kudos: 83
Location: Canada
Concentration: Finance, General Management
GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V35 (Online)
GPA: 3.42
Products:
GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V35 (Online)
Posts: 240
Kudos: 415
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Cleverworks has designed SpongeFloor, a layer of flooring made up of synthetic material that is placed below traditional kitchen flooring. Cleverworks believes that SpongeFloor will protect the kitchen flooring of homes prone to flooding, since SpongeFloor can absorb significant amounts of water that would otherwise ruin flooring.

Which of the following, if true, calls into question Cleverwork's clain regarding the efficacy of SpongeFloor?


(A) SpongeFloor is able to absorb only about 95% of the water that comes in cantact with kitchen flooring. : Incorrect : We are not sure whether 5% water is enough to damage the kitchen floor

(B) Wood and laminate flooring is extremely porous, meaning they are often permanently damaged in the event of a flood. : Incorrect: We are already given that the flood damage kitchen flooring. Nothing new is given.

(C) A small amount of space between SpongeFloor and kitchen flooring ensures that any water SpongeFloor absorbs will not come in contact with kitchen flooring. : Incorrect : This is actually a strengthener if the water does not come in contact it is good.

(D) Materials used to create SpongeFloor are derived from a variety of other synthetic products, some of which do not provide the absorrptive qualities that Cleverworks claims SpongeFLoor possessses. : Incorrect : Some is problematic here . Some can be just one and the net effect of that may be negligible or it may be a lot and can have significant effect.

(E) Water that is absorbed by SpongeFloor is prone to collecting mold, which causes extensive damage to kitchen flooring. Correct: If the water creates mold and damages the flooring anyways then clearly the efficacy is questioned.
User avatar
aishu0091
Joined: 28 Jul 2020
Last visit: 16 Nov 2023
Posts: 70
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 43
Posts: 70
Kudos: 19
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
P: SpongeFloor - a layer of flooring - placed below traditional kitchen flooring.
P2: SpongeFloor can absorb significant amounts of water
C: Spongefloor will protect flooring in case of flooding

Question: What weakens the claim of the efficacy of SpongeFloor?

(A) SpongeFloor is able to absorb only about 95% of the water that comes in cantact with kitchen flooring. --> Seems pretty good. does not weaken the question at all.

(B) Wood and laminate flooring is extremely porous, meaning they are often permanently damaged in the event of a flood. --> I was drawn to this because I was of the opinion that since its placed under the flooring the flooring will still be damaged. however this is a simple re-telling of facts.
1) we know that the floor gets damaged.
2) the company made a product to prevent this damage
3) they have placed it below the floor, but why? because maybe the damage is caused due to stagnation of water. If the sponge absorbs the water and the flooring above is not stagnated with water -- it has a chance of staying intact even in the case of flooding.
So based on this info we can't eliminate it.

(C) A small amount of space between SpongeFloor and kitchen flooring ensures that any water SpongeFloor absorbs will not come in contact with kitchen flooring. --> this strengthens the argument, which is the opposite of what we want it to do. Eliminate.

(D) Materials used to create SpongeFloor are derived from a variety of other synthetic products, some of which do not provide the absorrptive qualities that Cleverworks claims SpongeFLoor possessses. ---> Outside information? Pretty much. we have no idea about the absorptive properties and this claim can hence not be validated. who is making this claim? was there a survey conducted to evaluate the properties? we can't tell so eliminate. and most importantly as SohGMAT2020 has mentioned -- the use of the word 'some' is quite problematic here.

(E) Water that is absorbed by SpongeFloor is prone to collecting mold, which causes extensive damage to kitchen flooring. --> yup this helps weaken the argument as the mood creates another problem. Select (E)
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
189 posts