Garment industry representative: Women's pants are usually sized accor

Question

Garment industry representative: Women's pants are usually sized according to the circumference of the wearer's natural waist – the narrowest part of her torso, located roughly at the height of her navel. For instance, a pair of women's pants tagged size 29 is designed to fit the average woman with a 29-inch natural waist.

Consultant: But then the sizing number is not an actual measurement of the pants themselves. If a pair of pants is tagged size 29, then no dimension of the pants themselves will necessarily measure 29 inches. The current sizing system is thus likely to be more confusing for consumers than, say, a system in which sizes are numbered according to the waistband circumference of the pants themselves.

Garment industry representative: You are correct that the size number does not necessarily represent an actual dimension of the pants. However, your proposed sizing system would lead to substantially more confusion than the current one.

Which of the following, if true, supports the garment industry representative's position and also undermines the consultant's argument?

(A) Most consumers are quick to learn the sizing systems of their preferred brands, regardless of how counterintuitive or unusual they may find those systems at first.

(B) Many shoppers will measure their favorite pairs of pants at home before a shopping trip, so that they can quickly evaluate the fit of unfamiliar brands of pants without having to try them on.
 
(C) Even when wearing identical brands and styles of pants, some women prefer a tighter fit, while other women with similar bodies prefer a looser fit; moreover, a given woman's preferences often vary unpredictably from style to style within the same brand.
 
(D) Many women find smaller size numbers psychologically appealing and, when choosing among identically sized garments, are more likely to buy those tagged with smaller size numbers.

(E) Different styles of women's pants are worn with their waistbands at widely varying heights, some as high as the wearer's natural waist and some as low as the wearer's hipbone.

sathishkumar434 · Accepted Answer

The point that the garment industry representative makes is that the consultant's proposed sizing system would lead to substantially more confusion than the current one. So, we have to find a answer choice which explains why the current system is less confusing to the consumers than the system proposed by the consultant.

A)Most consumers are quick to learn the sizing systems of their preferred brands, regardless of how counterintuitive or unusual they may find those systems at first.  This option says that regardless of the current system or the consultant's proposed system consumers will learn the sizing system. So, this option supports neither the garment industry representative nor the consultant.

B)Many shoppers will measure their favorite pairs of pants at home before a shopping trip, so that they can quickly evaluate the fit of unfamiliar brands of pants without having to try them on. This option supports the consultant. If the size mentioned on the pants relates to the dimension of pants themselves, then the consumers can measure the pants at home and need not try the new pants at the time of purchasing

C)Even when wearing identical brands and styles of pants, some women prefer a tighter fit, while other women with similar bodies prefer a looser fit; moreover, a given woman's preferences often vary unpredictably from style to style within the same brand.
 A consumer can figure out whether a pant is tight fit or loose fit regardless of whether it is the current system or the consultant's system.

D)Many women find smaller size numbers psychologically appealing and, when choosing among identically sized garments, are more likely to buy those tagged with smaller size numbers.
 Not the right option. We have to find why the current system is less confusing.

E)Different styles of women's pants are worn with their waistbands at widely varying heights, some as high as the wearer's natural waist and some as low as the wearer's hipbone.
 This one makes sense. If we follow the consultant's system, then as a consumer I will have to remember that I am purchasing a low waist pant and the dimensions accordingly. But if we follow the current system, I just need to remember my natural waist size regardless of the style of the pant. Hence, the current system is less confusing.

KarishmaB · Answer

Industry Rep - Woman's pants are sized as per the woman's size - what would fit her natural waist. So someone with a natural waist of size 29, should buy size 29 (any style). This minimises confusion.

Consultant - Size should be according to the size of the garment. So 29 should be the circumference of the waist band of the pants.

We need to support the Rep and undermine the consultant.

(A) Most consumers are quick to learn the sizing systems of their preferred brands, regardless of how counterintuitive or unusual they may find those systems at first.

Then either person's preferred system should work. It doesn't support the rep's opinion of minimum confusion and agrees with consultant's view too. Incorrect.

(B) Many shoppers will measure their favorite pairs of pants at home before a shopping trip, so that they can quickly evaluate the fit of unfamiliar brands of pants without having to try them on.

Supports consultant's system if people measure their pants. Incorrect. 
 
(C) Even when wearing identical brands and styles of pants, some women prefer a tighter fit, while other women with similar bodies prefer a looser fit; moreover, a given woman's preferences often vary unpredictably from style to style within the same brand.
 
This option does not support the Rep. If some women prefer tight fit and others prefer loose fit, how does one say "what fits a natural waist of 29 size?" Then there can be no answer to this and hence no standard sizes. The Rep's system will not work then. Hence incorrect.

(D) Many women find smaller size numbers psychologically appealing and, when choosing among identically sized garments, are more likely to buy those tagged with smaller size numbers.

We don't need to worry about what will boost sales of which products. The point is to reduce confusion.

(E) Different styles of women's pants are worn with their waistbands at widely varying heights, some as high as the wearer's natural waist and some as low as the wearer's hipbone.

This supports the rep's system and undermines the consultant's. Since different pants are worn at different heights, if you mark the pants as per their own size, a woman with a natural waist of 29, will need size 29 for a high waist but might need a size 30 for mid waist and size 32 for low waist etc. This creates confusion.
On the other hand, if every garment is marked as per the woman's size (29) irrespective of the actual waistband size (which will be larger for low waist), all she needs to do is pick the pants with 29 on it. It would be automatically adjusted if it is supposed to sit lower than the natural waist. Hence, the rep's system would be easier to follow. All one has to do is know her own size and pick any style in that.

Answer (E)

BillyZ · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION 
(1) Identify the Question

The prompt asks for a statement that supports one of the two arguments in the passage while undermining the other. This problem thus combines the attributes of a "strengthen" question and a "weaken" question.

Fortunately, the basic mindset for strengthening arguments is the same as that for weakening them; the extra challenge, in a problem like this one, lies in keeping track of which argument you must support and which you must undermine.

(2) Deconstruct the Argument

The garment industry representative describes the currently prevailing sizing system for women's pants -- a system in which pants are sized according to the average wearer's natural waist circumference, rather than according to any actual dimension of the pants themselves. The consultant criticizes this system, claiming that an alternative system based on the measurements of the pants themselves would be less confusing. The garment industry representative argues the opposite; according to the representative, a system based on the actual measurements of the pants would be more confusing, not less so.

(3) State the Goal

You are to find a statement that supports the representative's position while undermining the consultant's. In other words, the desired statement should represent an advantage of the existing system (based on the wearer's body measurements) and, at the same time, a disadvantage of the consultant's proposed system (based on the measurements of the pants).

(4) Work from Wrong to Right

(A) If shoppers are quick to learn the sizing systems of their favorite brands, the most likely conclusion is that no sizing system will remain confusing for very long. Rather than supporting one side at the expense of the other, then, this statement renders the entire debate unimportant.

(B) This statement supports the notion of a system based on the measurements of the pants, rather than on those of the wearer's body. This choice thus accomplishes the opposite of what is desired: it supports the consultant's argument and undermines the representative's.

(C) If this statement is true, then a sizing system based on the wearer's body measurements cannot feasibly account for the range of preferences desired; a system based on the measurements of the pants themselves could possibly do so. This choice thus accomplishes the opposite of what is desired: it supports the consultant's argument and undermines the representative's.

(D) This statement provides evidence that many shoppers would be more psychologically pleased by a system based on their waist measurement, as that number (as described) will be smaller than the corresponding number for the waistband of the pants themselves. However, the argument is not concerned with determining which system would be more psychologically appealing to shoppers; it is concerned only with which system would be less confusing to them. This choice gives no evidence that either system is more or less confusing than the other, so it is irrelevant.

(E) CORRECT. If this statement is true, then, under a system based on the measurements of the pants themselves (as proposed by the consultant), shoppers would have to know the exact height at which every style of pants was designed to be worn, as well as their own preferred size at each of those heights. That system would thus be much more complicated -- and therefore more confusing -- than the existing system, in which each shopper only needs to know one measurement (her natural waistline).

rockstar23 · Answer

IMO E Garment industry representative position: Women's pants are usually sized according to the circumference of the wearer's natural waist and that size number does not necessarily represent an actual dimension of the pants. However, consultants proposed sizing system would lead to more confusion. We are asked which option supports the garment industry representative's position and also undermines the consultant's argument Pre-thinking: So we are looking for an option that should suggest that representatives solution is easier for consumers to deal with and that suggests that consultants sizing system would be difficult to deal with if implemented. A)Most consumers are quick to learn the sizing systems of their preferred brands, regardless of how counterintuitive or unusual they may find those systems at first. This option weakens the representative's position as it suggests that no matter how confusing the sizing system be, consumers are quick to grasp it. Hence, consultants way wont be confusing for consumers which in turn weakens representatives position. Hence out B)Many shoppers will measure their favorite pairs of pants at home before a shopping trip, so that they can quickly evaluate the fit of unfamiliar brands of pants without having to try them on. Again this option suggests that consumers measure their pants at home and while shopping can quickly evaluate a familiar fit leaving no need to deal with any kind of sizing system. This option does weaken the consultant's position but does not supports representatives position. Hence out. C)Even when wearing identical brands and styles of pants, some women prefer a tighter fit, while other women with similar bodies prefer a looser fit; moreover, a given woman's preferences often vary unpredictably from style to style within the same brand. Does not help in any way. Hence out D)Many women find smaller size numbers psychologically appealing and, when choosing among identically sized garments, are more likely to buy those tagged with smaller size numbers. Seems out of scope to me. Hence out E)Different styles of women's pants are worn with their waistbands at widely varying heights, some as high as the wearer's natural waist and some as low as the wearer's hipbone. This option seems to tell that since different styles of women's pants are worn with their waistbands at widely varying heights, some high and some low, each variety of pant will have its own size if the consultants way of sizing is put into use. On the contrary, the representatives way of sizing would create no confusion in this case. Hence Correct. Hence E is correct Hope it helps

akashb106 · Answer

A real tough one. I took over 3 minutes to come up with the answer. The fight was between C, E. In the end I selected C. I will try my best to explain why C.

A)Most consumers are quick to learn the sizing systems of their preferred brands, regardless of how counter intuitive or unusual they may find those systems at first.-----  This does not strengthen or undermine the argument. It basically says after a while consumers get familiar with different sizes. This logic can be applied to the consultant system of sizes.  
B)Many shoppers will measure their favorite pairs of pants at home before a shopping trip, so that they can quickly evaluate the fit of unfamiliar brands of pants without having to try them on. ----  Unfamiliar brands sizes. Out of Scope.  
C)Even when wearing identical brands and styles of pants, some women prefer a tighter fit, while other women with similar bodies prefer a looser fit; moreover, a given woman's preferences often vary unpredictably from style to style within the same brand.----- The different preference would lead to confusion with the sizes of jeans. CORRECT.  
D)Many women find smaller size numbers psychologically appealing and, when choosing among identically sized garments, are more likely to buy those tagged with smaller size numbers.---  Out of Scope.  
E)Different styles of women's pants are worn with their waistbands at widely varying heights, some as high as the wearer's natural waist and some as low as the wearer's hipbone.----- Different women have different styles of wearing jeans. But this talks about different styles of jeans worn differently, whereas C talks about same style of jeans worn differently

Whats the OA and OE?

KanupriyaS · Answer

A). Most consumers are quick to learn the sizing systems of their preferred brands, regardless of how counterintuitive or unusual they may find those systems at first.  This is ambiguous. Supports neither the Garment industry nor the Consultant. Incorrect

B)Many shoppers will measure their favorite pairs of pants at home before a shopping trip, so that they can quickly evaluate the fit of unfamiliar brands of pants without having to try them on.  Incorrect for sure. Supports the consultant and not the garment industry rep.

C)Even when wearing identical brands and styles of pants, some women prefer a tighter fit, while other women with similar bodies prefer a looser fit; moreover, a given woman's preferences often vary unpredictably from style to style within the same brand.  Incorrect. It is irrelevant as does not talk about the system.

D)Many women find smaller size numbers psychologically appealing and, when choosing among identically sized garments, are more likely to buy those tagged with smaller size numbers.  Close, although does not weaken the consultants argument. ( we are asked to strengthen the find the option which 'supports the garment industry representative's position and also undermines the consultant's argument')

E)Different styles of women's pants are worn with their waistbands at widely varying heights, some as high as the wearer's natural waist and some as low as the wearer's hipbone.  This one is correct as this complies with the garment industry reps idea about the sizing system.

ZLukeZ · Answer

Garment industry representative: Women's pants are usually sized according to the circumference of the wearer's natural waist – the narrowest part of her torso, located roughly at the height of her navel. For instance, a pair of women's pants tagged size 29 is designed to fit the average woman with a 29-inch natural waist.

Consultant: But then the sizing number is not an actual measurement of the pants themselves. If a pair of pants is tagged size 29, then no dimension of the pants themselves will necessarily measure 29 inches. The current sizing system is thus likely to be more confusing for consumers than, say, a system in which sizes are numbered according to the waistband circumference of the pants themselves.

Garment industry representative: You are correct that the size number does not necessarily represent an actual dimension of the pants. However, your proposed sizing system would lead to substantially more confusion than the current one.

Which of the following, if true, supports the garment industry representative's position and also undermines the consultant's argument?

E)Different styles of women's pants are worn with their waistbands at widely varying heights, some as high as the wearer's natural waist and some as low as the wearer's hipbone.

I am confused...

So the consultant says, the pants should represent the actual dimensions. Lets say "40 inches" if the pants are actual 40 inches wide... How is that really different to saying, we call the pants that have 40 inches of waist length "29".
It is a different measure but apparently all women know how to catogorize this according to their own size. So how does wearing pants differently change anything about the argument.
If they see pants with lets say 40 inches that are measured according to the pants' dimensions, they can still were them high or low?

I really don't get it...

mvictor · Answer

holly crap..now that's some serious reading here...
330 words in a question...really???

why would the universal system be ok? if we have pants that can be worn differently (saggy/on waist/etc), then the proposed system would not work really...
E for me...

anse · Answer

I am confused between C and E. In E, the talk is about the pants being worn at different heights. But then the size would be different depending on the size that is coming fit at that height. I looked at myself and answered it ( for low waist I have a different size and high waist I have a different size ). So if we take consultant's view into account and industry rep's view account I get confused.

Vordhosbn · Answer

Has any ever seen a question of this length published by GMAC?

VerbalBot · Answer

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Garment industry representative: Women's pants are usually sized accor

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