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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 4): In a recent calendar year, several 03 Jul 2025, 11:30
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Well, first of all, the logical flaw in the reasoning is that we don't know if engineers are required to complete an annual HR survey, so the statistics might be totally off. Secondly, the number of people who leave in the first year, in one year, might not be big enough to be a sample group for statistics.


(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.

This is out of scope and is not relevant to the reasoning.

(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.

This is out of scope and is not relevant to the reasoning.

(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.

This totally questions the statistics, which are the premise for the reasoning. If the engineers are not required to report that they have that certification when being hired, and they did not fill out the annual survey, then the number of people holding that certification could be way more, disproving the statistics.

(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.

This is not relevant to the reasoning. Even if it's true, it does not weaken or strengthen the argument.

(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.

This is not relevant to the reasoning. Even if it's true, it does not weaken or strengthen the argument.

Option C is correct.
Bunuel
In a recent calendar year, several engineers both joined and left Company Z. Among engineers who left within their first year of employment, 18 percent held an agile-project-management certification. Yet only 8 percent of all engineers who completed the annual HR survey reported holding that certification. Therefore, possessing the certification appears to make an engineer more likely to leave Company Z within a year of being hired.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.
(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.
(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.


 


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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 4): In a recent calendar year, several 03 Jul 2025, 11:32
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Bunuel
In a recent calendar year, several engineers both joined and left Company Z. Among engineers who left within their first year of employment, 18 percent held an agile-project-management certification. Yet only 8 percent of all engineers who completed the annual HR survey reported holding that certification. Therefore, possessing the certification appears to make an engineer more likely to leave Company Z within a year of being hired.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.
(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.
(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.


 


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In a calendar year , several engineers joined and left a company Z.

Among the engineers who left - 18 % held agile certification.

Yet as per the HR data - only 8 % had reported holding agile certification.

So, those who held those certifications are more likely to leave the organisation.

We need to weaken: By proving just holding certification doesn’t make them to resign within a year, Or there can be reasons other than this that engineers have resigned.

10% engineers who resigned should have got agile certification prior to joining and haven’t disclosed it to the HR. So, engineers holding agile certification leave is not true.

Option C weakens the argument.
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 4): In a recent calendar year, several 03 Jul 2025, 11:43
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IMO C

The Conclusion of the argument is - possessing the certification appears to make an engineer more likely to leave Company Z within a year of being hired.
Premises- 18% engineers who left within one year held certification and at the year end only 8% reported holding that certification.

(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms. - DOES NOT WEAKEN

(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications. IRRELEVANT

(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company. CORRECT ANSWER- If certifications are not required to report prior to joining the company then the percentages on which the Conclusion is made falls apart.

(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.- Irrelevant

(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company - Does not weaken the argument
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 4): In a recent calendar year, several 03 Jul 2025, 11:46
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(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
This tells us why they leave, but relating anything to a certificate, not weakening
(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
if not provide incentives then why did they have a higher number, no relation with certificate?
(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.
Right answer, as if they don't require the certificate prior to joining then the engineers who are currently in the company have not submitted the documents means underreported
(D) The majority of engineers at Company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.
If the majority of engineers work an agile environment, then it's strengthening the argument rather than weakening
(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.
Some don't know the exact count and if they do, then why higher percentage for leaving engineers, no relation
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(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
-> Not relevant to certifications
(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
-> Strengthen, not weaken
(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.
-> If true, there are other engineers who has certifications but did not report to the survey -> More than 8% of engineers held certifications in fact -> Possessing certification may not the reason they leave the company -> Weaken the argument
(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.
-> Not relevant to certifications
(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.
-> Word "Some" + Not relevant to certifications

Bunuel
In a recent calendar year, several engineers both joined and left Company Z. Among engineers who left within their first year of employment, 18 percent held an agile-project-management certification. Yet only 8 percent of all engineers who completed the annual HR survey reported holding that certification. Therefore, possessing the certification appears to make an engineer more likely to leave Company Z within a year of being hired.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.
(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.
(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.


 


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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 4): In a recent calendar year, several 03 Jul 2025, 11:57
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The question stem is trying to say out of 100 people left the company 18 held the certification. But out of total say 1000, 80 has the certification. So more people than average with certification leave the company hence possessing the certification appears to make an engineer more likely to leave Company Z within a year of being hired.

A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
This doesn't say why or why not someone with certification leaves the company. Hence irrelevant. Eliminate.

B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications. This provides a reason for leaving the company for someone with certification. It is more of a strengthener. Hence Wrong. Eliminate.

C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company. This means out of 1000 more could be possessing the certificate. Hence it is not more likely, but less likely. Eg. Even though 80 out of 1000 reported having certification. Since it is not required, maybe 600 could be possessing the certification which they obtained prior to joining in this company. or even if more number of people with certification is present, it weakens the reasoning that it is more likely. Hence it weakens the conclusion. So keep.

D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies. This doesn't say anthing about who is more likely to leave. Hence Irrelevant.

E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company. This also doesn't say about who is more likely to leave. Hence Irrelevant.

So answer (C).

Quote:
In a recent calendar year, several engineers both joined and left Company Z. Among engineers who left within their first year of employment, 18 percent held an agile-project-management certification. Yet only 8 percent of all engineers who completed the annual HR survey reported holding that certification. Therefore, possessing the certification appears to make an engineer more likely to leave Company Z within a year of being hired.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.
(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.
(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.


 


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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 4): In a recent calendar year, several 03 Jul 2025, 11:58
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Given:
  • 18% of engineers who left within a year had an agile-project-management certification.
  • Only 8% of all engineers who completed the HR survey reported having the certification.
  • So, the conclusion is:
    "Having the certification appears to make an engineer more likely to leave within a year."

We need to weaken this argument

(A) Most engineers who leave within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
  • This explains why they leave, but doesn't weaken the link between certification and leaving.
Does not weaken the argument.

(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
  • This is irrelevant to whether the certification causes attrition.
Irrelevant.

(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.
  • This affects the accuracy of the HR survey data.
  • If many engineers have the certification but didn't report it, the real percentage of certified engineers could be much higher than 8%.
  • That would make the 18% among leavers less surprising, and weaken the idea that certification is linked to early departure.
Weakens the argument

(D) The majority of engineers at Company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.
  • This explains the relevance of the certification, but says nothing about its connection to attrition.
Does not weaken.

(E) Some engineers obtain their agile certification only after joining the company.
  • doesn't clearly show whether the certification caused or followed the decision to leave.
Not strong enough.

Correct Answer: C
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 4): In a recent calendar year, several 03 Jul 2025, 12:09
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Weakening the argument means:
Breaks the connection between having the certification and leaving early.

Analyzing given options:

A)Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
Doesn't address the link between certification and leaving. It doesn't weaken the suggested link between the certification and the likelihood of departure.

B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
Doesn't affect the conclusion about likelihood to leave based on certification status

C)Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company
If some engineers did not report having the certification in the HR survey ,the 8% number may be too low. That means the real % of certified engineers in the whole company might be much higher than 8%.Then 18% of leavers having certification would not be usually high. Weakens the argument directly.

D)The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies
Just tells us how common agile is .Doesn't affect the certification correlates with leaving.

E)Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.
Doesn't break the link that certification correlates with leaving.
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IMO, option A most seriously weakens the argument. It specifies that the engineers of company Z leave the company for better position at competing firms. So, its better positions rather than obtaining the certification which makes engineers leave the company Z with 1 year.
Bunuel
In a recent calendar year, several engineers both joined and left Company Z. Among engineers who left within their first year of employment, 18 percent held an agile-project-management certification. Yet only 8 percent of all engineers who completed the annual HR survey reported holding that certification. Therefore, possessing the certification appears to make an engineer more likely to leave Company Z within a year of being hired.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.
(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.
(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.


 


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(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms. Certification may still be helpful
(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications. Irrelevant
(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company. Correct. May be others do possess the certificate, but they don't leave
(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies. Doesn't include effect of certificate
(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company. Strengthens or no effect.

Ans C
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 4): In a recent calendar year, several 03 Jul 2025, 12:46
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Premise: 18% of engineers leaving early had agile certification; only 8% of all surveyed engineers reported having it.
Conclusion: Certification makes engineers more likely to leave Company Z.

(A) and (D): These options provide irrelevant context about reasons for leaving or work methodologies, not challenging the statistical comparison.
(B) and (E): These options explain why or when certifications are obtained, not how possessing it relates to the likelihood of leaving based on the given percentages

(C): If the 8% baseline is an undercount due to un-reported pre-hire certifications, then 18% among leavers might not be disproportionately high, weakening the conclusion.

Even if you dont get the reasoning for E, you can reach it by POE!
Bunuel
In a recent calendar year, several engineers both joined and left Company Z. Among engineers who left within their first year of employment, 18 percent held an agile-project-management certification. Yet only 8 percent of all engineers who completed the annual HR survey reported holding that certification. Therefore, possessing the certification appears to make an engineer more likely to leave Company Z within a year of being hired.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.
(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.
(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.


 


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Bunuel
In a recent calendar year, several engineers both joined and left Company Z. Among engineers who left within their first year of employment, 18 percent held an agile-project-management certification. Yet only 8 percent of all engineers who completed the annual HR survey reported holding that certification. Therefore, possessing the certification appears to make an engineer more likely to leave Company Z within a year of being hired.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.
(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.
(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.


 


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Option C
this would affect the accuracy of the 8% figure. if many engineers have the certifications but did not report it, the true percentage of certified engineers in the company is likely higher than 8% . this directly weakens the argument by undermining the data comparison
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 4): In a recent calendar year, several 03 Jul 2025, 13:01
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% Groups with certification:
18% who left
8% who report
(8% who report) + (?% who do not) = Total% with certification

Notation: /' = Strengthen; \, = Weaken; -- = No Impact
Goal: Find \, answer
A) /' If competing firms seek those who possess the certification, that would support the argument
B) -- This happens prior to possession
C) \, Implies the "?% who do not" group is greater than zero. What if 92% got certified prior to joining and don't report?
D) /' If the opposite were true, those with the certification may seek to go elsewhere and use it
E) -- "some engineers" group =/= 18% who left
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 4): In a recent calendar year, several 03 Jul 2025, 14:45
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To weaken the argument, we need to find a statement that challenges the connection made between holding an agile-project-management certification and the likelihood of leaving the company within the first year. The argument implies that holding this certification increases the likelihood of leaving Company Z within the first year, but to weaken this, we need to identify other factors that could explain the engineers leaving or undermine the correlation.
Let’s examine each option:
(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
This statement provides context about why engineers leave, which could help explain the decision to leave. However, it does not directly address the claim that possessing the certification makes engineers more likely to leave. It does not weaken the connection between the certification and leaving within a year. Therefore, this option doesn't significantly weaken the argument.
(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
This statement might suggest that engineers who have obtained certifications on their own are more likely to leave, but it does not directly weaken the argument that holding the certification makes an engineer more likely to leave the company within their first year. The argument is based on the correlation between holding the certification and leaving early, not on the incentives offered by the company. Thus, this option does not seriously weaken the argument.
(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.
If engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained before joining, this could mean that some engineers who already held the agile certification before joining the company are being counted in the 8 percent of engineers who reported holding the certification. This would create a discrepancy in the data, suggesting that the 18 percent of engineers who left within the first year may not be representative of the same group as the 8 percent of all engineers who reported holding the certification. This could weaken the argument by showing that the correlation might not be accurate or meaningful. This is a strong contender for weakening the argument.
(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.
This statement would suggest that engineers with agile project management certifications may be more common in the company, but it does not directly address the relationship between certification and the likelihood of leaving the company within the first year. While it provides context about the work environment, it does not weaken the argument about the correlation between certification and leaving the company.
(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.
If engineers obtain their certification after joining, then the certification would not necessarily be a predictor of leaving early. In this case, the engineers who left within their first year might have had a certification at the time of leaving, but it would not have been a factor that influenced them to leave in the first place. This could undermine the idea that holding the certification increases the likelihood of leaving, making this option a strong contender for weakening the argument.
Conclusion:
The most significant weakening factor comes from option (C), as it challenges the accuracy of the data being used in the argument by showing that some engineers who already had the certification might not have reported it, which affects the validity of the comparison between the two groups. Thus, the correct answer is (C).





Bunuel
In a recent calendar year, several engineers both joined and left Company Z. Among engineers who left within their first year of employment, 18 percent held an agile-project-management certification. Yet only 8 percent of all engineers who completed the annual HR survey reported holding that certification. Therefore, possessing the certification appears to make an engineer more likely to leave Company Z within a year of being hired.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.
(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.
(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.


 


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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 4): In a recent calendar year, several 03 Jul 2025, 19:10
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Answer = C.

This option weakens the argument by showing that the data from the decision could be unrepresentative. We could have a much higher number os engineers with the certification but that are not covered by the HR available data.
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 4): In a recent calendar year, several 03 Jul 2025, 19:27
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The correct answer is (C)

First identify the argument - that the certification makes an engineer more likely to leave within one year. Then identify the assumption - that the 18% of newer hires with certifications that left in a year is a higher rate than the 8% of general HR reported certificatied employees. The assumption is that all employees that have this certification are actually reporting it on the HR survey so the 18% to 8% comparison is a valid.

(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
(this answer could be true but does not explain the certification detail)

(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
(The detail about incentives of this company still does not validate the 18% vs 8% comparison)

(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.
(This could directly explain the discrepancy between the 18% among engineers that left within a year and the 8% that reported it on the HR survey, probably because it was not required to report. This would weaken the assumption because now there is some uncertainty in the 8% of employees that reported being certified in the HR survey)

(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.
(if this was true, then the survey would have shown much higher percentage of agile certification. This does show some inconsistencies in the reporting on the HR survey but there could be many engineers that use the methods but are not formally certified)

(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.
(this could be true, as 82% of the newer hires did not come in with a certification however it does not explain why the reporting on the HR survey is lower than the new hire percentage)
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 4): In a recent calendar year, several 03 Jul 2025, 21:06
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Bunuel
In a recent calendar year, several engineers both joined and left Company Z. Among engineers who left within their first year of employment, 18 percent held an agile-project-management certification. Yet only 8 percent of all engineers who completed the annual HR survey reported holding that certification. Therefore, possessing the certification appears to make an engineer more likely to leave Company Z within a year of being hired.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.
(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.
(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.


 


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(A) This shows another reason that engineers want to leave company Z but does not deny the argument.
(B) Not weaken the relevant
(C) This is relevant. Since the company Z does not require to report certifications, so there might be more than 8% that could have it.
(D) Not weaken the argument.
(E) Not weaken the argument.

Answer is (C)
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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 4): In a recent calendar year, several 03 Jul 2025, 21:18
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In a recent calendar year, several engineers both joined and left Company Z. Among engineers who left within their first year of employment, 18 percent held an agile-project-management certification.
Yet only 8 percent of all engineers who completed the annual HR survey reported holding that certification.
Therefore, possessing the certification appears to make an engineer more likely to leave Company Z within a year of being hired.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
The statement is an additional information which has no relation with the possession of agile-project-management certification and does not weaken the argument.
Incorrect

(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
The conclusion that possessing the certification appears to make an engineer more likely to leave Company Z within a year of being hired assumes that employees leaving the job already possess the certification. This is an additional information and does not weaken the argument.
Incorrect

(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.
The conclusion is about possession of the certificate and not about reporting them prior to joining the company.
Incorrect

(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.
This is an additional information and does not weaken the argument. Instead, if the majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies then there may be better working environment and oppurtunities to learn and grow in the company.
Incorrect

(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.
The conclusion that possessing the certification appears to make an engineer more likely to leave Company Z within a year of being hired assumes that possession of the certificate before joining is the cause of leaving the company. But the statement that some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company seems to indicate that engineers obtain the certification only after joining the company. The statement weakens the argument
Correct

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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 4): In a recent calendar year, several 03 Jul 2025, 21:32
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The author assumes that the majority engineers who were involved in the HR survey did not inform about possesing the certification since they were likely to leave, which would exaplain the 18% engineers who possesed the certification when they left.

However, option c tells us that since it was mandatory for the engineers to explicitly inform HR about the certification, the engineers had no ulterior motive for not informing.
Bunuel
In a recent calendar year, several engineers both joined and left Company Z. Among engineers who left within their first year of employment, 18 percent held an agile-project-management certification. Yet only 8 percent of all engineers who completed the annual HR survey reported holding that certification. Therefore, possessing the certification appears to make an engineer more likely to leave Company Z within a year of being hired.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

(A) Most engineers who leave company Z within their first year do so voluntarily, often for positions at competing firms.
(B) Company Z does not provide incentives for employees to obtain professional certifications.
(C) Engineers are not required to report certifications they obtained prior to joining the company.
(D) The majority of engineers at company Z work in teams that use agile methodologies.
(E) Some engineers obtain their agile project management certification only after joining the company.


 


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GMAT Club Olympics 2025 (Day 4): In a recent calendar year, several 03 Jul 2025, 21:50
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we're comparing 18 percent of leavers with certification to 8 percent of all engineers who reported having it. the conclusion assumes this shows certified engineers are more likely to leave.

to weaken this, we need to show the 8 percent figure may be inaccurate or misleading.

option a says most leavers left voluntarily. this doesn’t affect whether certification caused them to leave. not relevant.

option b says the company doesn’t offer incentives to get certified. doesn’t affect the comparison being made. not relevant.

option c says engineers aren’t required to report prior certifications. this matters. if many engineers didn’t report their certifications, then the 8 percent figure is too low. that would mean certified engineers are not disproportionately leaving, and the conclusion is weakened.

option d says most engineers use agile. doesn’t help explain the difference in percentages. not relevant.

option e says some engineers get certified after joining. unless we know whether they stayed or left, this doesn’t impact the conclusion.

only option c directly weakens the logic by undermining the validity of the 8 percent baseline.

answer is c.
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