Last visit was: 06 Sep 2026, 11:42 It is currently 06 Sep 2026, 11:42
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
   1   2   3   4   5   
805+ (Hard)|   Weaken|         
User avatar
jefferyillman
User avatar
Joined: 01 Dec 2024
Last visit: 06 Sep 2026
Posts: 112
Own Kudos:
81
Given Kudos: 3
Posts: 112
Kudos: 81
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 09:42
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The 14% of facilities with the most contamination aged a greater total volume of cheese than any other comparable sized group of facilities.

If more cheese is aged there are more opportunities for contamination. Therefore the higher number of incidents may be do to just greater production volume and not poorer aging and handlings practices.
User avatar
ajain31
User avatar
Joined: 09 Nov 2024
Last visit: 06 Sep 2026
Posts: 70
Own Kudos:
57
 [1]
Given Kudos: 68
Location: United Kingdom
Schools: Wharton '27 Stanford '27 HBS '27 CBS '27
GPA: 71%
Schools: Wharton '27 Stanford '27 HBS '27 CBS '27
Posts: 70
Kudos: 57
 [1]
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 09:49
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Very common question type, I think similar question was on yesterday as well.

Bascially the author is saying that 14% of facilities involved 85% of contamination incidents, this is related to handling and ageing practises.

The assumption here is, that these 14% of facilities are comparable to the other 86% of facilities.

C attacks this assumption because it says, a large portion of these facilities where the contamination incidents happened produced the most cheese. Therefore naturally if they aged more cheese you'd expect they have more chances for contamination.

Watch out for the others, E for example talks about increasing production capcity, but an increase in the production capacity doesn't necessarily mean that they aged more cheese.
A is also tempting, but its a bit vague, how much did they actually age, a little bit more or lots more? this may or may not explain the 85%.

Remember in the GMAT, the questions are air tight, there can only be one answer.
User avatar
yashsharma1
User avatar
Joined: 18 Apr 2025
Last visit: 06 Sep 2026
Posts: 76
Own Kudos:
49
 [1]
Given Kudos: 26
Location: India
Schools: IESE '26 (WL)
GMAT Focus 1: 645 Q81 V82 DI83
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Schools: IESE '26 (WL)
GMAT Focus 1: 645 Q81 V82 DI83
Posts: 76
Kudos: 49
 [1]
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 09:51
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
From the question analysis, we can see that the author is simply saying that 85% contamination was done by 14% processing facilities. The remaining 86% also use similar systems and hence the handling practices must be responsible for the disparity in contamination concentration (85% contamination by 14%, remaining 86% together causing only 15% contamination)

Pre thinking: But what if the 14% were processing disproportionately large volumes also. In that case, even if their contamination volumes/total volumes ratio was average, out of the total contaminations, their share will most likely be higher.

A. This statement says that 14% facilities processed a greater volume AS COMPARED TO COMPARABLE FACILITIES. This cannot be basis for establishing that they produced majority of the overall production.
B. This statement somewhat strengthens the author's argument. If the health citations were high, there might actually be a process/handling issue
C. 76% contamination (out of the 85% we are discussing in the question) is caused by 12% facilities (most of it will be from the 14%). These also acconted for 93% production, which is in line with the pre thinking. CORRECT ANSWER.
D. Duration is not in scope of the argument
E. Again, having production capacity doesn't mean they actually produced more. Out of scope info.
User avatar
remdelectus
User avatar
Joined: 01 Sep 2025
Last visit: 06 Sep 2026
Posts: 120
Own Kudos:
112
Given Kudos: 6
Posts: 120
Kudos: 112
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 09:51
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A- If 14% of the facility is processing a massive share of the worlds artisan cheese volume,then i expect that they would register more absolute containment incidents.
B- if more citations are issued to the high contamination facilities, means hygiene is bad which strengthens and not weaken the argument.
C- This choice brings in new % that does not say why the specific 14% group behaves like that.
D- knowing that aging takes longer does not explain the contamination incident without making more assumptions that are not stated.
E- increase in total capacity shows how much cheese they could make but doesn't mean they produce a dispropotionate share of the cheese last year to the total incident count.
ANS: A
User avatar
harshitaa45
User avatar
Joined: 20 Feb 2021
Last visit: 06 Sep 2026
Posts: 49
Own Kudos:
30
Given Kudos: 8
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Posts: 49
Kudos: 30
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 09:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The passage states that aging and the handling practices are the major reason for contamination and to weaken this we need to pick a different reasoning all together.
So only option B (correct answer) shows something which is not related to Aging or handling practices but external regulations hence weakens the most.
Options a,c and e all talk about the handling volume and practices, and option D about aging factor.
User avatar
heyaa
User avatar
Joined: 19 Dec 2024
Last visit: 06 Sep 2026
Posts: 72
Own Kudos:
60
Given Kudos: 46
Location: India
Posts: 72
Kudos: 60
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 09:57
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A: Correct; as more volume statistically means more probability of contamination
B: supports
C: different groups involved, not mentioned clearly
D: supports
E: capacity not mentioned anywhere is the passage.
User avatar
obedear
User avatar
Joined: 05 Sep 2024
Last visit: 05 Sep 2026
Posts: 99
Own Kudos:
72
Given Kudos: 14
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Posts: 99
Kudos: 72
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 09:58
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I chose answer A. We are looking for an answer choice which will weak the reasoning that "differences in aging and handling practices must have been responsible." The correct answer will suggest an alternative reason which could be responsible for the greater incidence of contamination.

A - This says that the facilities which were involved in the majority of the total number of bacterial contamination incidents were also processing the highest volume of cheese. Note that we are not given information about the rate of bacterial contamination, we are simply told that the these 14% were involved in the greatest number. It is not unfair to assume that these properties processing a greater volume of cheese would also have the higher number of these incidents.

B - This actually supports handling practice side of the argument, but does not address the differences in aging practices. Not enough to fully weaken both aspects of the argument.

C - This just slightly restates the information given in the question without adding anything new or relevant. Eliminate.

D - This supports the argument. Eliminate.

E - Follows similar reasoning to A, but does not address volume of cheese produced, so ultimately not enough to weaken the argument.

A is the best answer.
User avatar
2448
User avatar
Joined: 09 Jun 2026
Last visit: 06 Sep 2026
Posts: 34
Own Kudos:
27
Given Kudos: 7
Posts: 34
Kudos: 27
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 10:05
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Answer is A.
A - high volume can have higher incidents.
B - strengthens the argument.
C - different group discussed.
D - aligns with the argument.
E - capacity is not equal to volume produced.
User avatar
Archit3110
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Last visit: 06 Sep 2026
Posts: 8,812
Own Kudos:
5,334
Given Kudos: 243
Status:You learn more from failure than from success.
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Marketing
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
GPA: 4
WE:Marketing (Energy)
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
Posts: 8,812
Kudos: 5,334
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 10:06
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
In 85 percent of the bacterial contamination incidents recorded at artisan cheese aging facilities last year, one or another of a group consisting of only 14 percent of the world's artisan aging facilities was involved. Since the other 86 percent of facilities generally use the same types of cave ventilation and temperature-control systems as these high-contamination facilities, significant differences in aging and handling practices must have been responsible for the disparity.

premise :
that last year 85 % of the bacterial contamination incident recorded at artisan cheese aging facilities ,
assuming if there are 100 facilities so 14 such facilities were involved

methods used to avoid contamination are cave ventilation and temperature control systems ...
cause of such high contamination can be differences in aging , handling practices ..

Which of the following, if true about artisan cheese aging facilities last year, most seriously weakens the argument above?

weakener type CR question :



(A) The 14 percent of facilities with the most contamination incidents collectively aged a greater total volume of cheese than any other comparable-sized group of facilities.

if this is true then this is a strong weakener as aging and handling practise could have caused such contamination ; correct option


(B) Regional food safety inspectors issued far more hygiene citations to the high-contamination facilities than to the other facilities last year.

this option does not weaken the conclusion of the argument ; incorrect option

(C) Twelve percent of the facilities accounted for 93 percent of all cheese aged globally last year, and those facilities were involved in 76 percent of the contamination incidents.

this does not gives us reason for weakener of artisan facilties where contamination was held and caused damage to cheese , ; incorrect option


(D) The average duration of the cheese-aging process across the 14 percent of facilities was nearly double the global median for artisan cheese production.
there is no data or value given about total cheese aging process global level ; incorrect option


(E) The 14 percent of facilities experienced a 100 percent increase in their total production capacity over the previous fiscal year.
this option is irrelevant and does not weaken the argument conclusion

option A is correct
User avatar
VenkataSai
User avatar
Joined: 21 Jul 2025
Last visit: 06 Sep 2026
Posts: 42
Own Kudos:
21
Given Kudos: 19
GMAT Focus 1: 595 Q81 V80 DI78
Products:
My Reviews GMAT Club Tests
GMAT Focus 1: 595 Q81 V80 DI78
Posts: 42
Kudos: 21
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 10:32
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
As per passage, the 14% contaminated facilities used same ventilation as other 86% facilities hence they state that ventilation is not the issue and the issue is because of differences in aging and handling practices.

We need to find in option, something that says ventilation is or any other variable other than handling practices responsible for the contamination.

Option A: Yes. The volume of cheese held by these 14% facilities are higher than any other facility. Hence it indicates that a new variable which is volume, is responsible for this contamination.

Option-B : Issuing citations last year cannot be responsible for increased contamination this year.
Option-C : This gives a relation between volume vs contamination but doesn't directly hit a nail in the head like "A".
Option-D: This states about the 14% facilities aging but doesn't talk about the other facilities. There might be other facilities with triple the median aging without contamination. so this directly doesn't weaken the passage.
Option-E : We donot know the previous year production and other facilities production. Hence though 100% increase sounds a lot, we cannot contribute the contamination to this increase as there is no definite comparision with other facilities.

Hence Option A should be the answer
Bunuel
In 85 percent of the bacterial contamination incidents recorded at artisan cheese aging facilities last year, one or another of a group consisting of only 14 percent of the world's artisan aging facilities was involved. Since the other 86 percent of facilities generally use the same types of cave ventilation and temperature-control systems as these high-contamination facilities, significant differences in aging and handling practices must have been responsible for the disparity.

Which of the following, if true about artisan cheese aging facilities last year, most seriously weakens the argument above?

(A) The 14 percent of facilities with the most contamination incidents collectively aged a greater total volume of cheese than any other comparable-sized group of facilities.

(B) Regional food safety inspectors issued far more hygiene citations to the high-contamination facilities than to the other facilities last year.

(C) Twelve percent of the facilities accounted for 93 percent of all cheese aged globally last year, and those facilities were involved in 76 percent of the contamination incidents.

(D) The average duration of the cheese-aging process across the 14 percent of facilities was nearly double the global median for artisan cheese production.

(E) The 14 percent of facilities experienced a 100 percent increase in their total production capacity over the previous fiscal year.

 


This question was provided by GMAT Club
for the GMAT World Cup Competition

Win over $30,000 in prizes such as Courses, Tests, Private Tutoring, and more

 


⚠️ Important: GMAT Club does not allow AI-generated posts. AI-generated solutions are not eligible for kudos, and users who post them may face moderation action, including a ban.
Show more
User avatar
Saurav1408
User avatar
Joined: 26 Oct 2023
Last visit: 02 Sep 2026
Posts: 81
Own Kudos:
61
 [1]
Given Kudos: 287
Status:Active
Location: India
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 81
Kudos: 61
 [1]
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 10:34
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I have confusion in 2 options in this but I am more inclined towards the later one.

The situation is -
Suppose we have 100 Artisan Cheese aging facilities and we have 100 cases of bacterial contamination
Out of 100 Artisan Cheese Aging facilities 14 of them are involved in 85 cases of bacterial contamination. And premises given is that there is no difference in infrastructure of the 14 facilities talked about as compared to the remaining 86 facilities(with 15 cases of contamination only)

So now to weaken it we could pre-think also that - it maybe possible that the majority of the cheese is aged at those 14 facilities and this the reason that these 14 facilities account for the most of the contamination cases(85 cases of contamination)

Option A - these 14 facilities collectively aged, that means all of these 14 facilities collectively aged more than any other facility of comparable sized-group of facilities. This is slightly weakening but one loophole is there - this does not define that the 14 facilities have majority of volume of cheese aging
Option B - Irrelevant and out of context
Option C - It definitely implies that majority of the cheese was aged among those 14 facilities. So we will keep this option - CORRECT
Option D - Time of cheese-aging process has nothing to do with the contamination in this situation - out of scope
Option E - Even if there was 100% increase in those 14 facilities, it does not account for the majority of the volume of cheese-aging. Eliminated

I was first confused with option A but while replying I analyzed the perspective of the comparison being set in the option A.
User avatar
amansoni5
User avatar
Joined: 16 Nov 2021
Last visit: 02 Sep 2026
Posts: 94
Own Kudos:
64
Given Kudos: 218
Posts: 94
Kudos: 64
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 10:46
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
14% of the artisan cheese aging facilities accounted for 85% of all bacterial contamination incidents last year.
Since the remaining 86% of facilities use similar ventilation and temperature-control systems, the author concludes that the higher contamination rate must be due to differences in aging and handling practices.

Which option weakens the conclusion that aging and handling practices are the cause?

Option A - Correct - If these facilities processed more cheese, they had more opportunities for contamination incidents. Their higher incident count could simply be a result of greater production volume rather than inferior aging or handling practices.

Option B - Incorrect - More hygiene violations suggest poorer handling or sanitation practices, which supports the author's conclusion that differences in practices caused the higher contamination rate.

Option C - incorrect - This refers to a different group (12%), not necessarily the same 14% discussed in the passage. Since the groups may not overlap completely, it does not directly explain the contamination pattern of the 14% facilities or provide a clear alternative cause.

Option D - incorrect - A longer aging period does not, by itself, explain why contamination occurred more often or show handling practices were not responsible. It neither challenges nor offers an alternative explanation for author's conclusion.

Option E - Incorrect - Increased capacity only indicates the ability to produce more. Without evidence of higher production, it does not adequately explain the greater number of contamination incidents.
User avatar
MANASH94
User avatar
Joined: 25 Jun 2025
Last visit: 05 Sep 2026
Posts: 165
Own Kudos:
121
Given Kudos: 27
Location: India
Schools: IIM IIM ISB
GMAT Focus 1: 525 Q80 V76 DI72
GPA: 2.9
Products:
GMAT Club Tests
Schools: IIM IIM ISB
GMAT Focus 1: 525 Q80 V76 DI72
Posts: 165
Kudos: 121
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 10:51
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Premise says:
14% of all the world's facilities were involved in the world's 85% of the contamination. The other 86% uses the same temperature and compliance conditions.

Conclusion:
Significant differences in aging and handling practices must have been responsible for the high contamination.
Trying to weaken:

A. Seems Correct: Seems like the statement implies that since 14% of the facilities are responsible for the majority of the production it means that these have more production capabilities than other facilities. Which means that there is a greater chance of contamination which can account for the 85% of contamination faced.

B. Incorrect: Strengthens the argument.
C. Seems Correct but not sure here that this addresses 12% of the facilities. but not targetting the same group of 14% here. Not sure the 12 % is a subset of the 14 % or not.
D. Incorrect: Longer aging might or might not cause the contamination.
E. Incorrect: I dont think that capacity has anything to do with actual production.

A has more credibility to weaken than C.
So IMO I would go with C.
Bunuel
In 85 percent of the bacterial contamination incidents recorded at artisan cheese aging facilities last year, one or another of a group consisting of only 14 percent of the world's artisan aging facilities was involved. Since the other 86 percent of facilities generally use the same types of cave ventilation and temperature-control systems as these high-contamination facilities, significant differences in aging and handling practices must have been responsible for the disparity.

Which of the following, if true about artisan cheese aging facilities last year, most seriously weakens the argument above?

(A) The 14 percent of facilities with the most contamination incidents collectively aged a greater total volume of cheese than any other comparable-sized group of facilities.

(B) Regional food safety inspectors issued far more hygiene citations to the high-contamination facilities than to the other facilities last year.

(C) Twelve percent of the facilities accounted for 93 percent of all cheese aged globally last year, and those facilities were involved in 76 percent of the contamination incidents.

(D) The average duration of the cheese-aging process across the 14 percent of facilities was nearly double the global median for artisan cheese production.

(E) The 14 percent of facilities experienced a 100 percent increase in their total production capacity over the previous fiscal year.

 


This question was provided by GMAT Club
for the GMAT World Cup Competition

Win over $30,000 in prizes such as Courses, Tests, Private Tutoring, and more

 


⚠️ Important: GMAT Club does not allow AI-generated posts. AI-generated solutions are not eligible for kudos, and users who post them may face moderation action, including a ban.
Show more
User avatar
ShreyaMittal1609
User avatar
Joined: 05 Nov 2025
Last visit: 06 Sep 2026
Posts: 82
Own Kudos:
45
Given Kudos: 210
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q77 V77 DI77
Products:
My Reviews GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q77 V77 DI77
Posts: 82
Kudos: 45
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial Updated on: 08 Jul 2026, 11:01
Originally posted by ShreyaMittal1609 on 07 Jul 2026, 10:56.
Last edited by ShreyaMittal1609 on 08 Jul 2026, 11:01, edited 1 time in total.
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I selected A). initially but understood that C) is a stronger weakener as it provides numbers and proves concentration of volume.

Author concludes that because ventilation and temp control systems are same in both 14% facilities (accounting for 85% of total bacterial contamination) and rest 86% facilities, hence reason for contamination is difference in aging and handling.
To weaken we need to find an alternate cause.

A) this option tells that the above 14% facilities handle greater volume than any other such group- weakens- Correct because alternate cause is volume
B) Hygiene citations being issued does not mean they are followed also- No effect- Incorrect
C) Now this confused me a little by giving similar stats to option A, but because the 12% does not match the argument 14% hence it leaves ambiguity for rest 2%- Not sure
D) Average duration or aging is already given as a cause in argument- Strengthens- Incorrect
E) Increase of production capacity does not give reason for more contamination.- No effect- Incorrect.
Bunuel
In 85 percent of the bacterial contamination incidents recorded at artisan cheese aging facilities last year, one or another of a group consisting of only 14 percent of the world's artisan aging facilities was involved. Since the other 86 percent of facilities generally use the same types of cave ventilation and temperature-control systems as these high-contamination facilities, significant differences in aging and handling practices must have been responsible for the disparity.

Which of the following, if true about artisan cheese aging facilities last year, most seriously weakens the argument above?

(A) The 14 percent of facilities with the most contamination incidents collectively aged a greater total volume of cheese than any other comparable-sized group of facilities.

(B) Regional food safety inspectors issued far more hygiene citations to the high-contamination facilities than to the other facilities last year.

(C) Twelve percent of the facilities accounted for 93 percent of all cheese aged globally last year, and those facilities were involved in 76 percent of the contamination incidents.

(D) The average duration of the cheese-aging process across the 14 percent of facilities was nearly double the global median for artisan cheese production.

(E) The 14 percent of facilities experienced a 100 percent increase in their total production capacity over the previous fiscal year.

 


This question was provided by GMAT Club
for the GMAT World Cup Competition

Win over $30,000 in prizes such as Courses, Tests, Private Tutoring, and more

 


⚠️ Important: GMAT Club does not allow AI-generated posts. AI-generated solutions are not eligible for kudos, and users who post them may face moderation action, including a ban.
Show more
User avatar
twinkle2311
User avatar
Joined: 05 Nov 2021
Last visit: 05 Sep 2026
Posts: 211
Own Kudos:
247
Given Kudos: 54
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Real Estate
Schools: ISB '27 Wharton '27
GPA: 9.041
Schools: ISB '27 Wharton '27
Posts: 211
Kudos: 247
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 11:01
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The argument concludes that the high contamination rates must be due to aging and handling practices, because the facilities use similar ventilation and temperature-control systems.
To weaken it, we need another reason why those facilities had more contamination incidents.

A sounds right imo. If these facilities aged much more cheese than others, they would naturally have more contamination incidents simply because they handled more cheese. The difference may have nothing to do with their practices. Keep

B actually strengthens the argument. More hygiene violations support the idea that their practices were worse. Eliminate

C talks about a different group (12% of facilities), so it doesn't directly explain why the 14% had so many incidents. Eliminate

D is too indirect. Longer aging times don't necessarily lead to more contamination incidents. Eliminate

E is irrelevant. Increased production capacity doesn't explain why contamination incidents were concentrated in these facilities. Eliminate

Ans : A
User avatar
DishaSaha
User avatar
Joined: 03 Nov 2024
Last visit: 30 Aug 2026
Posts: 64
Own Kudos:
49
Given Kudos: 24
GMAT Focus 1: 555 Q81 V75 DI78
GMAT Focus 1: 555 Q81 V75 DI78
Posts: 64
Kudos: 49
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 11:06
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Passage analysis:
Two groups,
Group-1: Facilities with high contamination, 14%
Group 2: Facilities with low contamination. 86%.
Author's POV from the data, since ventilation and temperature control is same for both the group. We can eliminate the point of commonality as a reason for this difference for these two groups of facilities and since aging and handling is different, this might be the reason.

We have to weaken author's conclusion.

Answer Choice analysis:

A. This information is irrelevant here. Even if this group-1 did produce aged a greater total volume still the contamination was greater even if the contamination report proportional. It does not affect the causality or give any other reason to weaken author's reasoning.
B. This is the correct answer. It totally undermines author's reasoning saying inspectors' citing was way more in the group 1 facilities than group 2. So, the same measures were not taken for both the group. This brings out one more difference which can be the main cause rather than aging and handling.
C.Again this information just gives more data regarding the amount of cheese produced. Which is irrelevant here for the same reason as option A.
D.This actually strengthen author's POV. If Group 1 uses way more aging duration then aging can be the reason. This is incorrect.
E.This is out of context. We are not bothered about total production or how it is increased anyway.

Bunuel
In 85 percent of the bacterial contamination incidents recorded at artisan cheese aging facilities last year, one or another of a group consisting of only 14 percent of the world's artisan aging facilities was involved. Since the other 86 percent of facilities generally use the same types of cave ventilation and temperature-control systems as these high-contamination facilities, significant differences in aging and handling practices must have been responsible for the disparity.

Which of the following, if true about artisan cheese aging facilities last year, most seriously weakens the argument above?

(A) The 14 percent of facilities with the most contamination incidents collectively aged a greater total volume of cheese than any other comparable-sized group of facilities.

(B) Regional food safety inspectors issued far more hygiene citations to the high-contamination facilities than to the other facilities last year.

(C) Twelve percent of the facilities accounted for 93 percent of all cheese aged globally last year, and those facilities were involved in 76 percent of the contamination incidents.

(D) The average duration of the cheese-aging process across the 14 percent of facilities was nearly double the global median for artisan cheese production.

(E) The 14 percent of facilities experienced a 100 percent increase in their total production capacity over the previous fiscal year.

 


This question was provided by GMAT Club
for the GMAT World Cup Competition

Win over $30,000 in prizes such as Courses, Tests, Private Tutoring, and more

 


⚠️ Important: GMAT Club does not allow AI-generated posts. AI-generated solutions are not eligible for kudos, and users who post them may face moderation action, including a ban.
Show more
User avatar
mehtyas
User avatar
Joined: 27 May 2025
Last visit: 06 Sep 2026
Posts: 74
Own Kudos:
61
Given Kudos: 832
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
Products:
GMAT Club Tests
Posts: 74
Kudos: 61
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 11:27
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
IMO - Answer should be A

The author concludes that the higher contamination must be due to different aging and handling practices, since all facilities use similar ventilation and temp control systems.

In order to weaken this conclusion, we will need to find an alternative reason for more contamination incidents. Answer choice A tells us that if 14% of the facilities processed more cheese, they would naturally have more contamination incidents. So, a higher number of incidents must be due to higher production and not poor practices.

Looking at other options.
B --> Strengthens instead of weakening - as more hygiene citations strengthen the idea that they have worse practices.
C --> Irrelevant - Talks about a different group and does nothing to explain the 14% in the argument.
D --> Strengthens instead of weakening - Longer aging is an aging practice, supporting the author's conclusion.
E --> Irrelevant - Does not address the conclusion as higher cap does not necessarily mean more production or more contamination.
User avatar
Zeus_
User avatar
Joined: 03 Jan 2024
Last visit: 06 Sep 2026
Posts: 33
Own Kudos:
22
Given Kudos: 7
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Posts: 33
Kudos: 22
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 11:43
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I think the answer is B.

Premise - in 85% of the incidents reports, only 14% of the world facilities of cheese aging were invloved. The other 86% use the same technology and methods within the facilities but were not affected by it.
Conclusion - Some other factor must be included.

A. It is talking about total volume of cheese. Irrelevant. Eliminate
B. Other factors were removed and breaking the doubt. Weakener.
C. it is talking about the facilities of 12% and not about the other factors. I think this strengthens the argument that more no. of same facilities were affected.
D. Irrelevant, as it is not mentioned that doubling the aging would affect the outcome somehow.
E. Increasing work load does not affect the other factors.
User avatar
Vivek1707
User avatar
Joined: 22 May 2020
Last visit: 04 Sep 2026
Posts: 353
Own Kudos:
186
Given Kudos: 150
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Posts: 353
Kudos: 186
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 11:45
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The issue involved here is about volume vs percentage.

Just because 14% of the artisans facilities are driving 85% of the contamination it does'nt mean they are performing poorly. It could just mean they are dealing with a larger volume of cheese

(A) This is correct since it says that the 14% factories aged a larger volume of cheese hence the it is highly possible that they would have higher number of incidencts. So this is a weakner. Eg If a Team plays more games it may have a higher volume of losses but its not nessarily poor team. The rate of losses should be seen.
(B) Hygiene citations are out of scope. If anything this would strengthen rather than weaken
(C) This says something very similar to the question itself. Additionally we dont know whether the 12% and the 14% overlap. Even if this is true this may not weaken
(D) Average duration is out of scope we are more concerned with the number of incidents rather than the avg duration
(E) Production capacity is out of scope. Even if 14% facilities experienced an increase in the production capacity, it doesn't weaken the conclusion that there were other ageing and handling issues involved.

Bunuel
In 85 percent of the bacterial contamination incidents recorded at artisan cheese aging facilities last year, one or another of a group consisting of only 14 percent of the world's artisan aging facilities was involved. Since the other 86 percent of facilities generally use the same types of cave ventilation and temperature-control systems as these high-contamination facilities, significant differences in aging and handling practices must have been responsible for the disparity.

Which of the following, if true about artisan cheese aging facilities last year, most seriously weakens the argument above?

(A) The 14 percent of facilities with the most contamination incidents collectively aged a greater total volume of cheese than any other comparable-sized group of facilities.

(B) Regional food safety inspectors issued far more hygiene citations to the high-contamination facilities than to the other facilities last year.

(C) Twelve percent of the facilities accounted for 93 percent of all cheese aged globally last year, and those facilities were involved in 76 percent of the contamination incidents.

(D) The average duration of the cheese-aging process across the 14 percent of facilities was nearly double the global median for artisan cheese production.

(E) The 14 percent of facilities experienced a 100 percent increase in their total production capacity over the previous fiscal year.

 


This question was provided by GMAT Club
for the GMAT World Cup Competition

Win over $30,000 in prizes such as Courses, Tests, Private Tutoring, and more

 


⚠️ Important: GMAT Club does not allow AI-generated posts. AI-generated solutions are not eligible for kudos, and users who post them may face moderation action, including a ban.
Show more
User avatar
cerbfrogue
User avatar
Joined: 28 Apr 2026
Last visit: 26 Aug 2026
Posts: 11
Own Kudos:
11
Given Kudos: 8
Concentration: Economics, Marketing
Schools: NUS Imperial ESSEC MiM '27
GPA: 3.7
Schools: NUS Imperial ESSEC MiM '27
Posts: 11
Kudos: 11
GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 2): In 85 percent of the bacterial 07 Jul 2026, 11:49
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
We must prove that such disparity is not because of aging and handling practices but because of something else.

A - This proves that those facilities get more contamination because they generally produce more than others. Correct!
B - Irrelevant, it might even strengthen the argument instead of weakening it - Incorrect
C - There are percentages that were not introduced earlier, and the point of the assumption may be on point, but it's very unclear where those % lead, what they prove, etc. Incorrect
D - This assumption is doing the opposite of what we need - it strengthens the argument. Incorrect
E - Capacity is a different thing from the actual volume. Incorrect

The answer is A
   1   2   3   4   5   
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7399 posts
AbhishekP220108
Verbal Forum Moderator
705 posts