Last visit was: 11 May 2026, 12:43 It is currently 11 May 2026, 12:43
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
agrasan
Joined: 18 Jan 2024
Last visit: 11 May 2026
Posts: 692
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 6,637
Location: India
Products:
Posts: 692
Kudos: 179
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 11 May 2026
Posts: 16,459
Own Kudos:
79,595
 [1]
Given Kudos: 485
Location: Pune, India
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,459
Kudos: 79,595
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
sumruethee
Joined: 28 Aug 2025
Last visit: 26 Dec 2025
Posts: 4
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 44
Posts: 4
Kudos: 1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
KarishmaB
Joined: 16 Oct 2010
Last visit: 11 May 2026
Posts: 16,459
Own Kudos:
79,595
 [1]
Given Kudos: 485
Location: Pune, India
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 16,459
Kudos: 79,595
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sumruethee
Hey, here’s how I interpret option D

amount received from the government assistant < Poverty Line. Thus, workers have an incentive to find employment so that they can rise about the poverty line.
This was the only reason I thought option is a better suited weakener.

Initially, I thought option C is a better option choice, but I thought it was a bit too broad and generic, so I rejected it.

Can someone help me in my analysis? KarishmaB GMATNinja egmat


Definition of poverty line is irrelevant. It could be defined at a level below what someone may call comfortable living or above it. To rise above the arbitrarily defined poverty line is not a financial incentive. What is comfortable living will be different person to person.
The point is that if one gets free money of $1000 per month from the Govt vs if one works and still gets total $1000 only (He earns $600 and gets $400 from the Govt), why would he work? So there is no financial incentive.
So what will weaken it? If the person getting $600 will later get $1200 in a new job because he was previously working, then there is an incentive to work. This is option (C)
User avatar
egmat
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 02 Nov 2011
Last visit: 07 May 2026
Posts: 5,631
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 707
GMAT Date: 08-19-2020
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,631
Kudos: 33,454
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The Purpose of Weaken Questions
"Make the conclusion less likely to be true."

Conclusion - "No reason to work if work pays the same as not working."
The argument is comparing working v/s being unemployed

The FALSE COMPARISON Trap
You compared: Both options vs. Poverty line
You should have compared: Job vs. Unemployment

The Apple Example
You're choosing between two apples:
  • Apple 1: $1
  • Apple 2: $1
Conclusion: "No reason to prefer one apple"
D says: "Both apples cost more than bananas"
You think: "Oh! They're both expensive! Maybe I should buy them!"
The problem: I'm not choosing between apples and BANANAS. I'm choosing between THE TWO APPLES.
Both apples STILL cost the same. Banana prices don't help me choose between the apples.
This is FALSE COMPARISON.

C says: "Apple 2 gives you a free coupon 50% off next time you buy an apple"
You think: "Oh! Apple 2 is worth more!"
The result: NOW I have a reason to prefer Apple 2 over Apple 1.
This changes the comparison BETWEEN THE TWO OPTIONS.

The two options:
  • Unemployment: $20K
  • Job: $20K
Conclusion: "No reason to prefer the job"
D says: "Both are below poverty ($25K)"
Like the apple example: Both options are below poverty, but they're STILL EQUAL to each other. The poverty line doesn't make one better.
C says: "Jobs lead to better future jobs"
Like the apple coupon: NOW the job is worth MORE because of future benefits.

How to Avoid the FALSE COMPARISON Trap
The One Question:
"Does this make ONE OPTION better than THE OTHER OPTION?"
D: Labels both options (doesn't make one better) C: Adds value to one option (makes it better)


sumruethee
Hey, here’s how I interpret option D

amount received from the government assistant < Poverty Line. Thus, workers have an incentive to find employment so that they can rise about the poverty line.
This was the only reason I thought option is a better suited weakener.

Initially, I thought option C is a better option choice, but I thought it was a bit too broad and generic, so I rejected it.

Can someone help me in my analysis? KarishmaB GMATNinja egmat
User avatar
Alick1
Joined: 28 Jun 2025
Last visit: 11 Jan 2026
Posts: 15
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 106
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Strategy
Schools: Wharton ISB '26
GMAT Focus 1: 585 Q83 V78 DI76
GRE 1: Q75 V60
GPA: 9.2
Schools: Wharton ISB '26
GMAT Focus 1: 585 Q83 V78 DI76
GRE 1: Q75 V60
Posts: 15
Kudos: 5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Taking a low-paying job now (with no immediate income gain) makes you more likely to get a higher-paying job later.
That future higher income is a financial incentive to accept the job now.
So the editorial’s conclusion—“no financial incentive”—is too narrow and incorrect.
It only considered current income, but rational people might be motivated by future income prospects.
So C directly weakens the argument.
   1   2 
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7391 posts
560 posts
363 posts