Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 08:40 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 08:40
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
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.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
manalq8
User avatar
Joined: 12 Apr 2011
Last visit: 12 Feb 2012
Posts: 110
Own Kudos:
2,294
 [79]
Given Kudos: 52
Status:D-Day is on February 10th. and I am not stressed
Affiliations: American Management association, American Association of financial accountants
Location: Kuwait
Concentration: finance and international business
Schools:Columbia university
GPA: 3.48
Posts: 110
Kudos: 2,294
 [79]
Critics of sales seminars run by outside consultants point out that si 18 Jan 2012, 11:13
8
Kudos
Add Kudos
69
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

75% (hard)

Question Stats:

53% (02:07) correct 47% (02:16) wrong based on 2369 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Critics of sales seminars run by outside consultants point out that since 1987, revenues of vacuum cleaner companies whose employees attended consultant-led seminars were lower than revenues of vacuum cleaner companies whose employees did not attend such seminars. The critics charge that for vacuum cleaner companies, the sales seminars are ill conceived and a waste of money.

Which of the following, if true, is the most effective challenge to the critics of sales seminars?

(A) Those vacuum cleaner companies whose sales were highest prior to 1987 are the only companies that did not send employees to the seminars.

(B) Vacuum cleaner companies that have sent employees to sales seminars since 1987 experienced a greater drop in sales than they had prior to 1987.

(C) The cost of vacuum cleaner sales seminars run by outside consultants has risen dramatically since 1987.

(D) The poor design of vacuum cleaner sales seminars is not the only reason for their ineffectiveness.

(E) Since 1987, sales of vacuum cleaners have risen twenty percent.
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
A
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
ChrisLele
User avatar
Magoosh GMAT Instructor
Joined: 28 Nov 2011
Last visit: 27 Jul 2020
Posts: 295
Own Kudos:
4,793
 [26]
Given Kudos: 2
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 295
Kudos: 4,793
 [26]
Critics of sales seminars run by outside consultants point out that si 18 Jan 2012, 13:26
21
Kudos
Add Kudos
5
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
We have two groups: vacuum cleaner salesmen who attend sales seminars and those who don’t. The latter group is said to sell more. The argument concludes that sales seminars are a waste of time.

But what if the two groups vary in a significant way, making comparisons between them invalid (at least as it pertains to efficacy of sales conferences)?

Thus we want to find an answer that shows that two groups of different.


Only (A) does so by pointing out that vacuum cleaner salesmen who did not attend conferences were already selling the most vacuum cleaners. To say that they were still selling the most after the post-conferences doesn’t mean that the conferences were a “waste of money.”

Let’s use some numbers to illustrate:

Pre-1987 sales Post 1987 sales
Not-Attending V. Salesmen 10 million/person 12 million/person

Attending V. Salesmen 1 million/person 2 million/person


This shows us that the seminars can be very helpful, even when those who attended had far less in revenue than those who did not attend.

Therefore (A) is the best answer.
avatar
rsh12
avatar
Joined: 25 Sep 2015
Last visit: 16 Apr 2021
Posts: 84
Own Kudos:
123
 [6]
Given Kudos: 75
Location: United States
Schools: XLRI (I) IIMA PGPX'22 (I) Ross '23 (I) ISB'22 (I)
GMAT 1: 700 Q48 V37
GRE 1: Q750 V600
GPA: 3.26
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: XLRI (I) IIMA PGPX'22 (I) Ross '23 (I) ISB'22 (I)
GMAT 1: 700 Q48 V37
GRE 1: Q750 V600
Posts: 84
Kudos: 123
 [6]
Critics of sales seminars run by outside consultants point out that si 05 Jan 2016, 11:35
5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
manalq8
Critics of sales seminars run by outside consultants point out that since 1987, revenues of vacuum cleaner companies whose employees attended consultant-led seminars were lower than revenues of vacuum cleaner companies whose employees did not attend such seminars. The critics charge that for vacuum cleaner companies, the sales seminars are ill conceived and a waste of money.

Which of the following, if true, is the most effective challenge to the critics of sales seminars?

(A) Those vacuum cleaner companies whose sales were highest prior to 1987 are the only companies that did not send employees to the seminars.
(B) Vacuum cleaner companies that have sent employees to sales seminars since 1987 experienced a greater drop in sales than they had prior to 1987.
(C) The cost of vacuum cleaner sales seminars run by outside consultants has risen dramatically since 1987.
(D) The poor design of vacuum cleaner sales seminars is not the only reason for their ineffectiveness.
(E) Since 1987, sales of vacuum cleaners have risen twenty percent.

can someone explain the choices please. appreciate it folks
Show more

IMO,

I was confused between A and E.

B - Strengthens
C- Irrelevant
D- Initially, the argument looks like it is more towards the sales seminar value but it is not. Also, this statement is not weakening it. It is restating a conclusion - which is not correct in 'weaken' type questions.
E - Again, Sales increase revenue decrease, that means there is something else wrong within the companies and has nothing to do with the seminars. First it really looks like it is weakening. On a second thought, it does not. If it would have said, the revenues have increased - only then it would have been the correct answer.

A- Correct.
General Discussion
User avatar
mgjsankar
User avatar
Joined: 11 Apr 2023
Last visit: 29 May 2023
Posts: 3
Own Kudos:
1
 [1]
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 3
Kudos: 1
 [1]
Critics of sales seminars run by outside consultants point out that si 03 May 2023, 03:25
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ChrisLele
We have two groups: vacuum cleaner salesmen who attend sales seminars and those who don’t. The latter group is said to sell more. The argument concludes that sales seminars are a waste of time.

But what if the two groups vary in a significant way, making comparisons between them invalid (at least as it pertains to efficacy of sales conferences)?

Thus we want to find an answer that shows that two groups of different.


Only (A) does so by pointing out that vacuum cleaner salesmen who did not attend conferences were already selling the most vacuum cleaners. To say that they were still selling the most after the post-conferences doesn’t mean that the conferences were a “waste of money.”

Let’s use some numbers to illustrate:

Pre-1987 sales Post 1987 sales
Not-Attending V. Salesmen 10 million/person 12 million/person

Attending V. Salesmen 1 million/person 2 million/person


This shows us that the seminars can be very helpful, even when those who attended had far less in revenue than those who did not attend.

Therefore (A) is the best answer.
Show more

It can only mean that the salesperson who did not attend the seminar pre and post 1987 retained their sales efficiency. But how can it mean that the people who attended the seminar improved their efficiency? The numbers you have quoted state that salesmen who did not attend the seminar sold 2 million /per person after 1987. The passage does not say anything like that. It only says that the revenue of companies which attended the seminar continued to be lower than that of companies that did not attend. The data could very well be 8 million per person for non-attendees post 1987 vis-a-vis 0.5 miilion/pre person for attendee companies. This is also a possibility. We cannot say that the seminar is useful in such a case.
User avatar
LearningTheRopes
User avatar
Joined: 01 Aug 2023
Last visit: 15 Jul 2024
Posts: 9
Own Kudos:
7
Given Kudos: 1
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V44
GMAT 2: 770 Q49 V47
GMAT 2: 770 Q49 V47
Posts: 9
Kudos: 7
Critics of sales seminars run by outside consultants point out that si 05 Sep 2023, 07:34
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
mgjsankar
ChrisLele
We have two groups: vacuum cleaner salesmen who attend sales seminars and those who don’t. The latter group is said to sell more. The argument concludes that sales seminars are a waste of time.

But what if the two groups vary in a significant way, making comparisons between them invalid (at least as it pertains to efficacy of sales conferences)?

Thus we want to find an answer that shows that two groups of different.


Only (A) does so by pointing out that vacuum cleaner salesmen who did not attend conferences were already selling the most vacuum cleaners. To say that they were still selling the most after the post-conferences doesn’t mean that the conferences were a “waste of money.”

Let’s use some numbers to illustrate:

Pre-1987 sales Post 1987 sales
Not-Attending V. Salesmen 10 million/person 12 million/person

Attending V. Salesmen 1 million/person 2 million/person


This shows us that the seminars can be very helpful, even when those who attended had far less in revenue than those who did not attend.

Therefore (A) is the best answer.

It can only mean that the salesperson who did not attend the seminar pre and post 1987 retained their sales efficiency. But how can it mean that the people who attended the seminar improved their efficiency? The numbers you have quoted state that salesmen who did not attend the seminar sold 2 million /per person after 1987. The passage does not say anything like that. It only says that the revenue of companies which attended the seminar continued to be lower than that of companies that did not attend. The data could very well be 8 million per person for non-attendees post 1987 vis-a-vis 0.5 miilion/pre person for attendee companies. This is also a possibility. We cannot say that the seminar is useful in such a case.
Show more

We are being asked which choice most weakens the argument. A is correct because it provides a different reason for why companies that provided seminars had lower revenues than those that did not. Rather than this being the result of their employees' attending seminars, we see that the companies were already earning more revenue before the assessment.

Essentially, the answer points to the conclusion being true before the variable in question, having employees attending seminars, is present. Think of it as A = B, and because A + C = B, you attempt to conclude that C is the cause of B. Good question
User avatar
naveengmat15
User avatar
Joined: 08 Aug 2023
Last visit: 17 Oct 2024
Posts: 71
Own Kudos:
15
 [1]
Given Kudos: 42
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Entrepreneurship
GPA: 4
WE:Architecture (Real Estate)
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 71
Kudos: 15
 [1]
Critics of sales seminars run by outside consultants point out that si 05 Sep 2023, 10:36
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
B - Strengthens
C- Irrelevant
D- Initially, the argument looks like it is more towards the sales seminar value but it is not. Also, this statement is not weakening it. It is restating a conclusion - which is not correct in 'weaken' type questions.
E - Again, Sales increase revenue decrease, that means there is something else wrong within the companies and has nothing to do with the seminars. First it really looks like it is weakening. On a second thought, it does not. If it would have said, the revenues have increased - only then it would have been the correct answer.

Left with A
User avatar
SatvikVedala
User avatar
Joined: 03 Oct 2022
Last visit: 03 May 2025
Posts: 177
Own Kudos:
121
Given Kudos: 51
Posts: 177
Kudos: 121
Critics of sales seminars run by outside consultants point out that si 13 Aug 2024, 02:09
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I was confused between A & D. Ultimately went with D

The reason for D was, I pre-thought it's not JUST seminar that is ineffective there is more to it

But after reading the posts below, understood flaw with the pre-thinking.
User avatar
ayushiii02
User avatar
Joined: 14 Jan 2023
Last visit: 22 Oct 2025
Posts: 11
Own Kudos:
5
Given Kudos: 10
Posts: 11
Kudos: 5
Critics of sales seminars run by outside consultants point out that si 20 Sep 2024, 08:56
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The critics say that sales seminar are ill concieved and waste of money but aren’t they proven correct with A?

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
Purnank
User avatar
Joined: 05 Jan 2024
Last visit: 15 Nov 2025
Posts: 680
Own Kudos:
585
 [1]
Given Kudos: 166
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
GMAT Focus 1: 635 Q88 V76 DI80
Products:
My Reviews
GMAT Focus 1: 635 Q88 V76 DI80
Posts: 680
Kudos: 585
 [1]
Critics of sales seminars run by outside consultants point out that si 20 Sep 2024, 09:51
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Though i understood how rest of them are wrong. But, how pre 1987 earnings/sales can act as a weakener against the critics?
User avatar
shaliny
User avatar
Joined: 30 Oct 2023
Last visit: 24 Oct 2025
Posts: 99
Own Kudos:
26
Given Kudos: 712
Products:
GMAT Club Tests
Posts: 99
Kudos: 26
Critics of sales seminars run by outside consultants point out that si 15 Jul 2025, 23:50
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
i request to GMAT ninja/ Bunuel to explain this argument, please..
manalq8
Critics of sales seminars run by outside consultants point out that since 1987, revenues of vacuum cleaner companies whose employees attended consultant-led seminars were lower than revenues of vacuum cleaner companies whose employees did not attend such seminars. The critics charge that for vacuum cleaner companies, the sales seminars are ill conceived and a waste of money.

Which of the following, if true, is the most effective challenge to the critics of sales seminars?

(A) Those vacuum cleaner companies whose sales were highest prior to 1987 are the only companies that did not send employees to the seminars.

(B) Vacuum cleaner companies that have sent employees to sales seminars since 1987 experienced a greater drop in sales than they had prior to 1987.

(C) The cost of vacuum cleaner sales seminars run by outside consultants has risen dramatically since 1987.

(D) The poor design of vacuum cleaner sales seminars is not the only reason for their ineffectiveness.

(E) Since 1987, sales of vacuum cleaners have risen twenty percent.
Show more
User avatar
agrasan
User avatar
Joined: 18 Jan 2024
Last visit: 19 Nov 2025
Posts: 534
Own Kudos:
130
 [1]
Given Kudos: 5,193
Location: India
Products:
GMAT Club Tests
Posts: 534
Kudos: 130
 [1]
Critics of sales seminars run by outside consultants point out that si 16 Jul 2025, 00:39
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The gist of this argument is that the comparison is done between oranges and apples. If those companies (let's say bucket A) already had top performing sales then there might not be a need for them to conduct seminars to improve sales and when companies (let's say bucket B) which have low sales conduct seminars and are compared with bucket A, then the conclusion is made that the seminars are not working to improve sales which is clearly a flawed one. Thus, option A fits as a correct answer.
User avatar
shaliny
User avatar
Joined: 30 Oct 2023
Last visit: 24 Oct 2025
Posts: 99
Own Kudos:
26
Given Kudos: 712
Products:
GMAT Club Tests
Posts: 99
Kudos: 26
Critics of sales seminars run by outside consultants point out that si 16 Jul 2025, 05:19
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
got you, here cause n effect are exchanged . thanks
agrasan
The gist of this argument is that the comparison is done between oranges and apples. If those companies (let's say bucket A) already had top performing sales then there might not be a need for them to conduct seminars to improve sales and when companies (let's say bucket B) which have low sales conduct seminars and are compared with bucket A, then the conclusion is made that the seminars are not working to improve sales which is clearly a flawed one. Thus, option A fits as a correct answer.
Show more
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
miag
189 posts