GMAT CLUB OLYMPICS: Each of the past four years, the number of applica

(A) is the answer IMO


A. The average age of applicants to United States literature Ph.D. programs has changed markedly over the past four years.

Average age of applicant does not tell much about the number of applicants whether international or US applicant: No affect on conclusion

B. The number of international students applying to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by nearly half in the past four years.

Say 100, 90, 81, 73 are the applicants in last 4 years overall reduction in number is nearly 27
Number International applicants in last 4 years : 80, x, y, 40 : Reduction in number is 40
From above we ca say application from U.s students must have increased

Hence, This option weakens the conclusion

C. The cost of attending a literature Ph.D. program in the United States has more than doubled in the past four years.

As the cost is increased so possibly many students who are interested but because of increased cost they prefer not to apply; Hence, This option weakens the conclusion

D. The average number of Ph.D. programs that the average Ph.D. applicant applies to has dropped from seven to four over the past four years.

Now there could possibly be higher success rate in applications so applicant do not apply to many programmed, they apply in fewer but get the admission. Not that fewer U.S. students are interested in literature Ph.D. programs now than were four years ago.
This option weakens the conclusion

E. The number of Ph.D. programs reporting data to American College Daily has declined precipitously since the publication stopped compensating for such submissions three years ago.

This option indicates the changes in the data source so conclusion derived based on such data would definitely be doubtful; Hence, this option weakens the conclusion.

Each of the past four years, the number of applications to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by more than ten percent year over year according to a recent report by American College Daily. From this statistic, it can be reasonably concluded that fewer U.S. students are interested in literature Ph.D. programs now than were four years ago.

conclusion: literature phd applicantants declined because fewer US students are interested in it now than 4 yrs ago.

Each of the following, if true, would weaken the conclusion EXCEPT:


A. The average age of applicants to United States literature Ph.D. programs has changed markedly over the past four years. -the age has nothing to do with the conclusion therefore correct answer choice, it didn't weaken the conclusion.

B. The number of international students applying to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by nearly half in the past four years. -yes it weaken the conclusion because the conclusion only consider US students.

C. The cost of attending a literature Ph.D. program in the United States has more than doubled in the past four years.-yes weaken the conclusion, the students may still be interested in literature but because of the cost they don't apply.

D. The average number of Ph.D. programs that the average Ph.D. applicant applies to has dropped from seven to four over the past four years.-weaken since not just literature that drop, but whole phd programs so not that the US students are not interested.

E. The number of Ph.D. programs reporting data to American College Daily has declined precipitously since the publication stopped compensating for such submissions three years ago. -yes weaken it's not just the US students arnt interested but the programs may just have not report the data.

A

Each of the past four years, the number of applications to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by more than ten percent year over year according to a recent report by American College Daily. From this statistic, it can be reasonably concluded that fewer U.S. students are interested in literature Ph.D. programs now than were four years ago.

Each of the following, if true, would weaken the conclusion EXCEPT:


A. The average age of applicants to United States literature Ph.D. programs has changed markedly over the past four years.
Average age should no affect the conclusion.
CORRECT

B. The number of international students applying to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by nearly half in the past four years.
So, the decline after all may not be in the number of the US students, but due to the declining number of international students applying to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States

C. The cost of attending a literature Ph.D. program in the United States has more than doubled in the past four years.
So, it may be the COST that is discouraging the students and not the interest in literature Ph.D. programs.

D. The average number of Ph.D. programs that the average Ph.D. applicant applies to has dropped from seven to four over the past four years.
Now, the option says that the earlier each student was filling up 7 forms and now it is 4. In a way, this is almost a 43% drop. This actually may tell us that the number of student applying has increased.

E. The number of Ph.D. programs reporting data to American College Daily has declined precipitously since the publication stopped compensating for such submissions three years ago.
If fewer colleges are giving data, the decline may be attributable to this trend rather than the interest of students.


A

My answer is A
The conclusion of the argument is that fewer US students are interested in literature Ph.D. programs now than were four years ago.We have to have option that doesn't weaken this conclusion.

A.The average age of applicants to United States literature Ph.D. programs has changed markedly over the past four years:This statement doesn't weaken the conclusion. It doesn't matter if the age of applicants has changed markedly. Interest of students may still decline irrespective of age.

B.The number of international students applying to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by nearly half in the past four years: It says that number of international students applying has declined. This weakens the conclusion because the number of applicants
can decline without loss of interest among US students. So B is out.

C.The cost of attending a literature Ph.D. program in the United States has more than doubled in the past four years:If the cost has doubled than cost might be the reason for decline in number rather than loss of interest. This weakens the conclusion. C is out

D.The average number of Ph.D. programs that the average Ph.D. applicant applies to has dropped from seven to four over the past four years: If the average number of programs that students apply to has dropped than it might be a reason for drop in number of literature applicants. So we can say that overall number of phd applications have declined. This weakens the conclusion. D is out

E.The number of Ph.D. programs reporting data to American College Daily has declined precipitously since the publication stopped compensating for such submissions three years ago: This weakens the conclusion because if number of Ph.D programs reporting data
ta has declined than the data collected may not represent actual result. E is out.

A seems like the best choice.

Posted from my mobile device

IMO A

Reasoning:-
1. B- international students have not been applying as much as they used to, so there are fewer applications and not because fewer US students are interested. Weakens. Eliminated
2. C- Cost has increased- so even if there is interest, affordability is lacking. Weakens. Eliminated
3. D- A student is now only submitting 4 applications instead of 7 on average. So the number of applications has decreased. Weakens. Eliminated.
4. E- Not all data is reported. Weakens. Eliminated

Thus answer is A. Age has no bearing on the change of number.

Each of the past four years, the number of applications to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by more than ten percent year over year according to a recent report by American College Daily. From this statistic, it can be reasonably concluded that fewer U.S. students are interested in literature Ph.D. programs now than were four years ago.

Each of the following, if true, would weaken the conclusion EXCEPT:

Conclusion - Fewer U.S. students are interested in literature Ph.D. programs now than were four years ago

A. The average age of applicants to United States literature Ph.D. programs has changed markedly over the past four years.
Correct. This doesn't weaken the conclusion that fewer US students are interested in literature Ph.D. programs now than were four years ago

B. The number of international students applying to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by nearly half in the past four years.
Incorrect. This weakens the conclusion that fewer US students are interested in literature PhD programs now than were four years ago

C. The cost of attending a literature Ph.D. program in the United States has more than doubled in the past four years.
Incorrect. This weakens the conclusion that fewer US students are interested in literature PhD programs now than were four years ago

D. The average number of Ph.D. programs that the average Ph.D. applicant applies to has dropped from seven to four over the past four years.
Incorrect. This weakens the conclusion that fewer US students are interested in literature PhD programs now than were four years ago

E. The number of Ph.D. programs reporting data to American College Daily has declined precipitously since the publication stopped compensating for such submissions three years ago.
Incorrect. This weakens the argument

A. The average age of applicants to United States literature Ph.D. programs has changed markedly over the past four years.

Correct because this choice doesn’t explain why decrease in the number of applications are occurring. The reverse may very well be true.
Average age may change in any direction but the number of application may rise or fall unrelated of this age.
Therefore this choice is correct.

B. The number of international students applying to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by nearly half in the past four years.

Incorrect because this choice weakens the conclusion by showing that the decrease actually occurred because of international students, not US students as the stem says.

C. The cost of attending a literature Ph.D. program in the United States has more than doubled in the past four years.

Incorrect because this choice weakens the conclusion by showing that there is another factor that decreased the number f applications other than the decreasing interest of US students. High cost may be deterring who are actually interested in studying literature.

D. The average number of Ph.D. programs that the average Ph.D. applicant applies to has dropped from seven to four over the past four years.

This choice also weakens by showing that the overall number of applications decreased but the number of interested students is still the same.

E. The number of Ph.D. programs reporting data to American College Daily has declined precipitously since the publication stopped compensating for such submissions three years ago.

If universities stopped reporting to the organization whose report we are talking, then this organization may simply don’t know how many applications are being received.

So A

A. The average age of applicants to United States literature Ph.D. programs has changed markedly over the past four years.
THe Average Age is irrelevant to interest.
RIGHT ANSWER - This is completely irrelevant to the argument. Age, in reality has nothing to do with the number of applications.

B. The number of international students applying to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by nearly half in the past four years.
REJECTED - As this weakens.
THe international students could be applying in decreasing numbers, while the US students could be increasing.

C. The cost of attending a literature Ph.D. program in the United States has more than doubled in the past four years.
REJECTED - As this weakens.
Increasing cost could be a reason for the decreasing applications.

D. The average number of Ph.D. programs that the average Ph.D. applicant applies to has dropped from seven to four over the past four years.
REJECTED - As this weakens.
One student needs just one seat. If the number of applications each student puts in is decreasing, it need not indicate declining intrest, as each student will eventually get a seat.

E. The number of Ph.D. programs reporting data to American College Daily has declined precipitously since the publication stopped compensating for such submissions three years ago.
REJECTED - As this weakens.
If the data that the American Daily is getting is wrong, because it is not willing ot pay for it, in other words, if colleges are not reporting the data, but the American Daily still uses the data it gets, the results are bound ot be wrong.

Each of the past four years, the number of applications to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by more than ten percent year over year according to a recent report by American College Daily. From this statistic, it can be reasonably concluded that fewer U.S. students are interested in literature Ph.D. programs now than were four years ago.

Each of the following, if true, would weaken the conclusion EXCEPT:


A. The average age of applicants to United States literature Ph.D. programs has changed markedly over the past four years. Correct

neither weakens conclusion nor support

B. The number of international students applying to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by nearly half in the past four years. Incorrect

so decrease may not for Us students

C. The cost of attending a literature Ph.D. program in the United States has more than doubled in the past four years. Incorrect

cant be reason for decreasing number of students

D. The average number of Ph.D. programs that the average Ph.D. applicant applies to has dropped from seven to four over the past four years. Incorrect

so, not only students decrease in literature Ph.D. programs but also in other programs

E. The number of Ph.D. programs reporting data to American College Daily has declined precipitously since the publication stopped compensating for such submissions three years ago. Incorrect

report published by American College Daily may not true

A - wrong - gives another reason for the decline
B - wrong - Same as A
C - wrong - Same as A
E - wrong - Same as A -perhaps more prominent programs stopped giving the data, hence the decline

D - Right - It is consistent data if the people are less interested, average number of phd application per person has dropped.

Hence D ans

Each of the past four years, the number of applications to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by more than ten percent year over year according to a recent report by American College Daily. From this statistic, it can be reasonably concluded that fewer U.S. students are interested in literature Ph.D. programs now than were four years ago.

Each of the following, if true, would weaken the conclusion EXCEPT:

any option that shows that there is some other reason which has led to decrease in number of applications to literature PhD programs will weaken.
A. The average age of applicants to United States literature Ph.D. programs has changed markedly over the past four years. - incorrect. this shows another reason why the applications declined.

B. The number of international students applying to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by nearly half in the past four years.-- incorrect. this shows another reason why the applications declined.

C. The cost of attending a literature Ph.D. program in the United States has more than doubled in the past four years. -- incorrect. this shows another reason why the applications declined.

D. The average number of Ph.D. programs that the average Ph.D. applicant applies to has dropped from seven to four over the past four years. -- this can weaken because there could be this scenario where applicants are not applying to not just literature PhD programs but other PhD programs as well!

E. The number of Ph.D. programs reporting data to American College Daily has declined precipitously since the publication stopped compensating for such submissions three years ago. - correct. This doesn't seem to have any effect on the argument.

A. The average age of applicants to United States literature Ph.D. programs has changed markedly over the past four years. Weakens

B. The number of international students applying to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by nearly half in the past four years. Weakens

C. The cost of attending a literature Ph.D. program in the United States has more than doubled in the past four years. Weakens

D. The average number of Ph.D. programs that the average Ph.D. applicant applies to has dropped from seven to four over the past four years. Correct

E. The number of Ph.D. programs reporting data to American College Daily has declined precipitously since the publication stopped compensating for such submissions three years ago.Weakens

Ans: D

the applicants for literature PHD are decreasing -> reasoning : us applicants are losing interest in lit PhD program

the ones that weaken EXCEPT -> choose the one that does not weaken -> strengthen or doesn't impact the conclusion at all.

A. The average age of applicants to United States literature Ph.D. programs has changed markedly over the past four years. -> If the average age has changed, there is a chance that age has increased and hence less are eligible to apply, hence it might not be the interest that can cause this, but rather a different factor. It weakens in a particular scenario. Keep for now.

B. The number of international students applying to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by nearly half in the past four years. -> so, interest of US students can still be high -> the low applicant is because of a diff factor. -> Weakens -> Eliminate.

C. The cost of attending a literature Ph.D. program in the United States has more than doubled in the past four years. ->cost has increased -> less people able to apply -> weakens -> Eliminate.

D. The average number of Ph.D. programs that the average Ph.D. applicant applies to has dropped from seven to four over the past four years. -> It talks about PhD programs, and doesn't provide any information of the impact of PhD for Literature program. A better choice that A, as this doesn't impact the conclusion at all. Eliminate A, Keep this.

E. The number of Ph.D. programs reporting data to American College Daily has declined precipitously since the publication stopped compensating for such submissions three years ago. -> another cause for less reported applicants. so can weaken. Eliminate.

Ans. D.

Logical map:
4 years in a row, lit PhD program apps decline >=10% y-o-y. -> it can be reasonably concluded that fewer U.S. students are interested in lit PhD program

Pre-thinking:
Lots of needed details are missing here, luckily its an "except" with weaken question. So we need to cross out every answer that does weaken, and keep one that doesn't weaken. Top of mind would be increasing acceptance rates, more deferrals, less apps per applicant, rising cost, etc. Lets look at the answers.


A. The average age of applicants to United States literature Ph.D. programs has changed markedly over the past four years. - this has doesn't seem to have anything to do with the argument. Therefore this does not weaken it, and we cannot eliminate this answer. This is the best answer IMO.

B. The number of international students applying to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by nearly half in the past four years. - yes this weakens, fewer apps can be explained by fewer international student apps, potentially leaving U.S. students unchanged. Eliminate.

C. The cost of attending a literature Ph.D. program in the United States has more than doubled in the past four years. - yes this weakens, more expensive could mean interest is just as high but affordability is not there. Eliminate.

D. The average number of Ph.D. programs that the average Ph.D. applicant applies to has dropped from seven to four over the past four years. - yes this weakens, this explains a decline in total number of apps while not declining the interest in programs. Eliminate.

E. The number of Ph.D. programs reporting data to American College Daily has declined precipitously since the publication stopped compensating for such submissions three years ago. - yes this definitely weakens, less apps reported shows an artificial decline. Eliminate.

Conclusion: From this statistic, it can be reasonably concluded that fewer U.S. students are interested in literature Ph.D. programs now than were four years ago.

We need to find answer choices that find reasons for fewer applications or reasons that are not related to the interests of American students. Then, eliminate those choices. Whichever answer choice is left is the right one.

A. The average age of applicants to United States literature Ph.D. programs has changed markedly over the past four years. ( Incorrect: This states that may be the interest of American students is same as before however due to change in age restrictions, they cannot apply to colleges. Give an alternate reason for fewer applications, hence weaken the conclusion. Eliminate)

B. The number of international students applying to literature PhD programs in the United States has declined by nearly half in the past four years. ( Incorrect: Yes, maybe the number of American applications remained the same, however, international applications dropped. This weakens the conclusion. Eliminate)

C. The cost of attending a literature PhD program in the United States has more than doubled in the past four years. ( Incorrect: This gives an alternate reason for fewer applications. The interest might be still the same, but amercan students cant afford fees , hence not applying. Eliminate)

D. The average number of Ph.D. programs that the average Ph.D. applicant applies to has dropped from seven to four over the past four years. (Correct: HAs have no impact on the conclusion. This doesn't give a reason for lower applications, just a fact that on average the applications are low. )

E. The number of Ph.D. programs reporting data to American College Daily has declined precipitously since the publication stopped compensating for such submissions three years ago. ( Incorrect : What if the data based on which conclusion is drawn is itself incorrect. IF the programs with higher rate of applications are not reporting the figures then the data is incorrect . Weakens argument. Eliminate)

Each of the following, if true, would weaken the conclusion EXCEPT:


A. The average age of applicants to United States literature Ph.D. programs has changed markedly over the past four years. --Incorrect, if the age has changed then it is the reason not the interest as per arg

B. The number of international students applying to literature Ph.D. programs in the United States has declined by nearly half in the past four years.--Incorrect, the reduction is number from int students, so this weakens

C. The cost of attending a literature Ph.D. program in the United States has more than doubled in the past four years. --Incorrect, Cost is the reason

D. The average number of Ph.D. programs that the average Ph.D. applicant applies to has dropped from seven to four over the past four years. --Correct, No impact

E. The number of Ph.D. programs reporting data to American College Daily has declined precipitously since the publication stopped compensating for such submissions three years ago.-- Incorrect as this questions the report data

IMO : D

Option E is the correct answer IMO as it neither strengthens nor weakens the conclusion. It only means that the conclusion is not based on data that is comprehensive.

Option A : If the age has changed then it could mean more interested students are actually delaying applying to the programs. Incorrect.

Option B : This certainly weakens the conclusion. If international applicants fell by half but overall applicants fell only by more than 10%, then actually more US students are applying for these programs. Incorrect.

Option C : Weakening statement. This means cost is the factor that is affecting admissions and not students' interest. Incorrect.

Option D : This means students are still interested in the programs. But they have started to narrow down their choices. Incorrect.