GMAT Club World Cup 2022 (DAY 9): The underground metro rail stations

Analysis: The commuters often do not throw away the trash in designated dustbins and toss them on the station platforms. The new mayor of Kolta has planned intensive cleaning campaign for 4 weeks.
The outgoing mayor believes that the cleanliness cannot sustain after the campaign ends.

To find a statement that most seriously bring into question the belief of the outgoing mayor - i.e., a weakening statement.

A. The above-ground platforms of the metro rail stations are also dirty and there is no cleaning campaign planned for them.
--> Incorrect: The status of above-ground platforms is out of scope of the argument.

B. Regular cleaning schedule for the underground stations will be introduced by the new mayor after the four week campaign ends.
--> Incorrect: Even with the regular cleaning schedule it is possible that the cleanliness is not as much as during the campaign.

C. The majority of people of Kolta who commute by metro rail stations did not vote for the new mayor.
--> Incorrect: This statement does not affect the argument, on a very high level analysis it could be supposed that it supports the argument, in a way, that people might not want to support the cleanliness campaign for new mayor.

D. The commuters throw trash in undesignated areas only if there is already trash lying around in these undesignated areas.
--> Correct: If after the cleanliness no trash is not lying in undesignated areas, then commuters will not throw trash and new Mayor's argument would fail.

E. The amount of trash accumulated on the metro station platforms is enormous, making the cleaning campaign costly.
--> Incorrect: Cost of the cleaning campaign is not relevant for the argument. On a high level it could be considered that the cleaning campaign itself fails because of this reason and new mayor is correct in his/her assumption.

The underground metro rail stations of the city Kolta are known to be dirty.
The commuters often do not throw away the trash in designated dustbins, but simply toss them on the station platforms.
The new mayor of Kolta has planned to take up an intensive cleaning campaign lasting for four consecutive weeks for all the underground metro rail stations of Kolta.
However the outgoing mayor of the city does not believe that the four week intensive campaign would be effective in keeping the underground metro stations clean in the long run after the campaign ends.

Which of the following statements most seriously bring into question the belief of the outgoing mayor?

We are NOT concerned with above-ground platforms. Irrelevant.
Incorrect

Regular cleaning schedule will help maintain cleanliness in the underground stations but commuters may still make them dirty again. Option D is better than option B.
Incorrect

We are NOT concerned with number of people voting for the mayors.
Incorrect

Since the cleaning campaign will thoroughly clean undesignated areas of underground stations, the commuters will not throw trash in undesignated areas and will NOT make them dirty again.
Correct

We are NOT concerned with amount of trash or cost of cleaning.
Incorrect

IMO D

Belief of the mayor : Does not believe that the four week intensive campaign would be effective in keeping the underground metro stations clean in the long run after the campaign ends.

We have to weaken the argument

A. The above-ground platforms of the metro rail stations are also dirty and there is no cleaning campaign planned for them.

Has no effect on the argument. First the argument is centered around "underground metro rail stations". Hence this option is not relevant.

B. Regular cleaning schedule for the underground stations will be introduced by the new mayor after the four week campaign ends.

While a compelling choice, we do not know that Regular cleaning schedule is sufficient to keep the the underground metro stations clean in the long run after the campaign ends. Hence would eliminate it.

C. The majority of people of Kolta who commute by metro rail stations did not vote for the new mayor.

Out of scope w.r.t conclusion

D. The commuters throw trash in undesignated areas only if there is already trash lying around in these undesignated areas.

This seems relevant, if people dont throw trash, then the underground metro stations is likely to remain clean in the long run after the campaign ends

E. The amount of trash accumulated on the metro station platforms is enormous, making the cleaning campaign costly.

Costing is not in scope

IMO D

Type: Weaken
Belief of Mayor: The four week intensive campaign would NOT be effective in keeping the underground metro stations clean in the long run after the campaign ends.

A. The above-ground platforms of the metro rail stations are also dirty and there is no cleaning campaign planned for them.
INCORRECT. Whether above-ground platforms of the metro rail stations are also dirty and whether there is cleaning campaign planned for them or not is irrelevant to the argument.

B. Regular cleaning schedule for the underground stations will be introduced by the new mayor after the four week campaign ends.
INCORRECT Going back to regular cleaning schedule after the intensive cleaning program could again lead to accumulation of trash in the metro stations as the commuters continue their usual habit. This supports the Mayor's belief and does not undermine it.

C. The majority of people of Kolta who commute by metro rail stations did not vote for the new mayor.
INCORRECT Whether the majority of people of Kolta who commute by metro rail stations voted for the new mayor is irrelevant to the argument.

D. The commuters throw trash in undesignated areas only if there is already trash lying around in these undesignated areas.
CORRECT If the intensive cleaning program gets rid of all accumulated trash lying around in undesignated areas of the metro stations and if commuters throw trash in undesignated areas only if there is already trash lying around in these undesignated areas, the mayor's belief that - "The four week intensive campaign would NOT be effective in keeping the underground metro stations clean in the long run after the campaign ends" - is weakened, because commuters will not litter at the same rate after the intensive cleaning program as they did before the program.

E. The amount of trash accumulated on the metro station platforms is enormous, making the cleaning campaign costly.
INCORRECT. The argument does not concern about the cost of the cleaning campaign.

Argument - New mayor has launched a campaign to clean the UG metro. Old mayor believes that this campaign will not keep the UG metro clean in long run.
There has been a jump from now (campaign to clean UG metro) to future (keep metro in long run) by old mayor.
We have to find an option which weakens the claim


A. The above-ground platforms of the metro rail stations are also dirty and there is no cleaning campaign planned for them. - Above-ground platform is OUT OF SCOPE - INCORRECT
B. Regular cleaning schedule for the underground stations will be introduced by the new mayor after the four week campaign ends. - what will be done later is a point of later consideration as Outgoing Mayor bases his conclusion on what is happening today (intensive four week cleaning) not what will happen after the campaign ends. - INCORRECT
C. The majority of people of Kolta who commute by metro rail stations did not vote for the new mayor. - Who voted for whom is not the concern. Even if true, this means that they may support old mayor by throwing trash to malign reputation of New Mayor. - INCORRECT
D. The commuters throw trash in undesignated areas only if there is already trash lying around in these undesignated areas. - Use of "only" indicates that if the metro is clean, no one else will throw trash and hence the metro will be clean even after the intensive cleaning drive -- CORRECT
E. The amount of trash accumulated on the metro station platforms is enormous, making the cleaning campaign costly. - Cost is not a consideration of the argument - OUT OF SCOPE - INCORRECT

Outgoing mayor - 4 week campaign will NOT create lasting impact -- we have to weaken this

A. The above-ground platforms of the metro rail stations are also dirty and there is no cleaning campaign planned for them. --This is irrelevant to underground cleaning campaign effectiveness
B. Regular cleaning schedule for the underground stations will be introduced by the new mayor after the four week campaign ends. --Out of scope, this is talking about a program or campaign post the 4 week intensive cleaning program. We are discussing the effectiveness of the 4 week program
C. The majority of people of Kolta who commute by metro rail stations did not vote for the new mayor. --Irrelevant -- Peoples like for the Mayor is irrelevant to the acceptance and effectiveness of the campaign. Also goes against the premise that new Mayor has power to implement campaign.
D. The commuters throw trash in undesignated areas only if there is already trash lying around in these undesignated areas. -- This weakens outgoing mayors argument. After the intensive cleaning campaign, the chances are undesignated areas will not have any trash lying around and this will deter people from putting trash at these undesignated places hence keeping the spots cleaner in the long run
E. The amount of trash accumulated on the metro station platforms is enormous, making the cleaning campaign costly. --The cost of campaign is irrelevant to the discussion of its long term effectiveness

Correct choice D

The underground metro rail stations of the city Kolta are known to be dirty. The commuters often do not throw away the trash in designated dustbins, but simply toss them on the station platforms. The new mayor of Kolta has planned to take up an intensive cleaning campaign lasting for four consecutive weeks for all the underground metro rail stations of Kolta. However the outgoing mayor of the city does not believe that the four week intensive campaign would be effective in keeping the underground metro stations clean in the long run after the campaign ends.

Which of the following statements most seriously bring into question the belief of the outgoing mayor?

'Weakener' required for outging mayor's belief that underground metro stations will become dirty once again after the intensive cleaning campaign ends.

A. The above-ground platforms of the metro rail stations are also dirty and there is no cleaning campaign planned for them.
Irrelevant..since the stimulus doesn't speak about the above-ground platforms of the metro rail stations

B. Regular cleaning schedule for the underground stations will be introduced by the new mayor after the four week campaign ends.
The underground stations may remain dirty in the inerval between two consecutive cleaning schedules

C. The majority of people of Kolta who commute by metro rail stations did not vote for the new mayor.
Out of scope prompt..voting preferences will not have any effect

D. The commuters throw trash in undesignated areas only if there is already trash lying around in these undesignated areas.
Correct option..if this is true , then..post the intensive cleaning campaign leading to clean underground metro rail stations. the commuters will not throw trash in undesignated locations, hence the stations will always remain clean..thus weakening the old mayor's argument

E. The amount of trash accumulated on the metro station platforms is enormous, making the cleaning campaign costly.
Expenditures on cleaning campaign may or may not desist further cleaning campaign..not a significant weakener as compared to option D

Correct option is (D)

Answer: D

The underground metro rail stations of the city Kolta are known to be dirty. The commuters often do not throw away the trash in designated dustbins, but simply toss them on the station platforms. The new mayor of Kolta has planned to take up an intensive cleaning campaign lasting for four consecutive weeks for all the underground metro rail stations of Kolta. However the outgoing mayor of the city does not believe that the four week intensive campaign would be effective in keeping the underground metro stations clean in the long run after the campaign ends.

Which of the following statements most seriously bring into question the belief of the outgoing mayor?

Questioning the belief of outgoing mayor means that campaign would be effective and stations will be clean in the long run.

A. The above-ground platforms of the metro rail stations are also dirty and there is no cleaning campaign planned for them. --> Incorrect. above-ground platforms is out of scope of the argument.
B. Regular cleaning schedule for the underground stations will be introduced by the new mayor after the four week campaign ends. --> Incorrect. Even if regular cleaning schedule is introduced, that doesn't mean that the commuters will not toss away the trash on station platforms. This implies that stations can still be dirty.
C. The majority of people of Kolta who commute by metro rail stations did not vote for the new mayor. --> Incorrect. Voting of people for the new mayor is irrelevant to the argument.
D. The commuters throw trash in undesignated areas only if there is already trash lying around in these undesignated areas. --> Correct. This means, if there is no trash lying in undesignated areas, commuters won't throw trash over there but only in designated area. Once the intensive cleaning campaign ends, there won't be any trash lying around in undesignated areas. and commuters will end up throwing in designated area. This definitely questions the belief of outgoing mayor.
E. The amount of trash accumulated on the metro station platforms is enormous, making the cleaning campaign costly. --> Incorrect. Amount of trash or cost of campaign are out of scope of the argument.

Imo D

According to the outgoing mayor the plan will not be a success after the campaign ends. To weaken this conclusion, we need to find the option that gives us a reason that even after the campaign ends the place will remain clean.

A. The above-ground platforms of the metro rail stations are also dirty and there is no cleaning campaign planned for them.
Out of scope. We need to discuss about the underground metro rail stations.
B. Regular cleaning schedule for the underground stations will be introduced by the new mayor after the four week campaign ends.
Whether the Regular cleaning schedule is enough to make place clean in future. We don't know.
C. The majority of people of Kolta who commute by metro rail stations did not vote for the new mayor.
Irrelevant. Gives more reason to believe that the people will not make the plan successful after the campaign ends.
D. The commuters throw trash in undesignated areas only if there is already trash lying around in these undesignated areas.
If the commuters only throw in undesignated areas then after 4 weeks they will not throw trash because they will not find any such areas.
E. The amount of trash accumulated on the metro station platforms is enormous, making the cleaning campaign costly.
Irrelevant. Doesn't explain what will happen after 4 weeks..