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Updated on: 29 Jun 2024, 03:23
Originally posted by EMPOWERgmatVerbal on 09 Oct 2020, 15:51.
Last edited by Bunuel on 29 Jun 2024, 03:23, edited 2 times in total.
Last edited by Bunuel on 29 Jun 2024, 03:23, edited 2 times in total.
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Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
45%
(medium)
Question Stats:
60% (01:29) correct
40%
(01:42)
wrong
based on 370
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Colleges have higher graduation rates if students have more flexibility as to their choice of courses. From 2013 to 2018, the graduation rate at Balrose College steadily increased by 17%. It is therefore apparent that Balrose College offered greater flexibility in course choices in 2018 than in 2013.
The argument is most vulnerable to which of the following criticisms?
(A) It assumes that a condition that is sufficient for a particular outcome is necessary for that outcome.
(B) It makes an assumption that is directly contradicted by the stated evidence.
(C) It blurs the distinction between the cause of an outcome and the effect produced by that outcome.
(D) It presents, without warrant, a particular case as if it were a general principle.
(E) It uses imprecise terms in order to draw a conclusion that is unsupported by the given statistical information.
The argument is most vulnerable to which of the following criticisms?
(A) It assumes that a condition that is sufficient for a particular outcome is necessary for that outcome.
(B) It makes an assumption that is directly contradicted by the stated evidence.
(C) It blurs the distinction between the cause of an outcome and the effect produced by that outcome.
(D) It presents, without warrant, a particular case as if it were a general principle.
(E) It uses imprecise terms in order to draw a conclusion that is unsupported by the given statistical information.
EMPOWERgmat CR Question Pack 2
Question 18: Graduation Rates
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Question 18: Graduation Rates
48 Hour Answer & Explanation Window
Earn KUDOS! Have your explanations evaluated to help boost your learning. Post your reasoning why the answer you chose is correct, and why the other 4 options are incorrect within 48 hours of this post.
Scroll Down For Official Explanation
◀ Question 17
▶ Question 19
⏏ CR Library Pack 2 Home
ramlala
Joined: 22 Aug 2020
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Concentration: International Business, Finance
Schools: IIMA PGPX'23 INSEAD Jan'23 intake Sloan (MIT) ISB HEC Said
GPA: 4
WE:Project Management (Energy)
09 Oct 2020, 19:50
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Question 18: Graduation Rates
Colleges have higher graduation rates if students have more flexibility as to their choice of courses. From 2013 to 2018, the graduation rate at Balrose College steadily increased by 17%. It is therefore apparent that Balrose College offered greater flexibility in course choices in 2018 than in 2013.
The argument is most vulnerable to which of the following criticisms?
(A) It assumes that a condition that is sufficient for a particular outcome is necessary for that outcome.: In line with the argument
(B) It makes an assumption that is directly contradicted by the stated evidence.: Not contradicted, Conclusion related to premise
(C) It blurs the distinction between the cause of an outcome and the effect produced by that outcome.: Outcome and effect is mentioned
(D) It presents, without warrant, a particular case as if it were a general principle.: This is right. There is only one condition for the outcome. There may be other factors as well for the increase in the students, not mentioned here. This is our choice for answer
(E) It uses imprecise terms in order to draw a conclusion that is unsupported by the given statistical information.: Conclusion is supported with statistics
Colleges have higher graduation rates if students have more flexibility as to their choice of courses. From 2013 to 2018, the graduation rate at Balrose College steadily increased by 17%. It is therefore apparent that Balrose College offered greater flexibility in course choices in 2018 than in 2013.
The argument is most vulnerable to which of the following criticisms?
(A) It assumes that a condition that is sufficient for a particular outcome is necessary for that outcome.: In line with the argument
(B) It makes an assumption that is directly contradicted by the stated evidence.: Not contradicted, Conclusion related to premise
(C) It blurs the distinction between the cause of an outcome and the effect produced by that outcome.: Outcome and effect is mentioned
(D) It presents, without warrant, a particular case as if it were a general principle.: This is right. There is only one condition for the outcome. There may be other factors as well for the increase in the students, not mentioned here. This is our choice for answer
(E) It uses imprecise terms in order to draw a conclusion that is unsupported by the given statistical information.: Conclusion is supported with statistics
12 Oct 2020, 15:00
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Official Explanation:
Colleges have higher graduation rates if students have more flexibility as to their choice of courses. From 2013 to 2018, the graduation rate at Balrose College steadily increased by 17%. It is therefore apparent that Balrose College offered greater flexibility in course choices in 2018 than in 2013.
The argument is most vulnerable to which of the following criticisms?
(A) It assumes that a condition that is sufficient for a particular outcome is necessary for that outcome.
(B) It makes an assumption that is directly contradicted by the stated evidence.
(C) It blurs the distinction between the cause of an outcome and the effect produced by that outcome.
(D) It presents, without warrant, a particular case as if it were a general principle.
(E) It uses imprecise terms in order to draw a conclusion that is unsupported by the given statistical information.
Question Type: Logical Flaw
Boil It Down: Higher graduation rates have been correlated to flexible course choices. Balrose College’s graduation rates increased from 2013 to 2018. Therefore, the reason must be that they offered flexible course choices.
Goal: Find the option that would best criticize this frame of logic.
Analysis:
This question asks us to find a flaw in the argument as presented:
Conclusion: Balrose College offered greater flexibility in course choices in 2018 than in 2013.
Premise 1: Colleges will have higher grad rates if there is more flexibility.
Premise 2: The graduation rate at Balrose increased between 2013 and 2018.
The problem is that we are told that IF a college offers more flexibility THEN the grad rate increases, but that does not mean that IF the grad rate increases THEN the college offers more flexibility. In other words, as choice A states, offering more flexibility is SUFFICIENT for an outcome (higher grad rates) but we are not told that offering more flexibility is NECESSARY for that outcome. There may be other causes. This difference, between sufficiency and necessity, is an important one. Here’s another example: If a person is in business school, then he or she took the GMAT. This is (largely) a true statement. This means that being in business school is enough to say (is sufficient for) one having taken the GMAT. However, this If/Then statement cannot be reversed. One cannot conclude that if one takes the GMAT, then one is in business school. (You have to score well, decide to go to business school, etc.) Taking the GMAT is necessary but not sufficient.
(A) It assumes that a condition that is sufficient for a particular outcome is necessary for that outcome.
This is the correct choice. As explained in the analysis above, a condition that is sufficient for a particular outcome (offering more flexibility) does not have to be necessary. Balrose could have increased their graduation rate through some other means than offering more flexibility.
(B) It makes an assumption that is directly contradicted by the stated evidence.
There is no contradiction implied in the passage.
(C) It blurs the distinction between the cause of an outcome and the effect produced by that outcome.
There is no blurring of cause and effect. The cause is clearly given as more flexibility, and the effect is given as higher grad rates. This is not concludable, but there is no blurring of the two.
(D) It presents, without warrant, a particular case as if it were a general principle.
The case of Balrose is not used to support a general principle regarding grad rates. There is no generalizing to other schools, for example.
(E) It uses imprecise terms in order to draw a conclusion that is unsupported by the given statistical information.
None of the terms are imprecise. They all mean exactly what they appear to mean.
Don’t study for the GMAT. Train for it.
Colleges have higher graduation rates if students have more flexibility as to their choice of courses. From 2013 to 2018, the graduation rate at Balrose College steadily increased by 17%. It is therefore apparent that Balrose College offered greater flexibility in course choices in 2018 than in 2013.
The argument is most vulnerable to which of the following criticisms?
(A) It assumes that a condition that is sufficient for a particular outcome is necessary for that outcome.
(B) It makes an assumption that is directly contradicted by the stated evidence.
(C) It blurs the distinction between the cause of an outcome and the effect produced by that outcome.
(D) It presents, without warrant, a particular case as if it were a general principle.
(E) It uses imprecise terms in order to draw a conclusion that is unsupported by the given statistical information.
Question Type: Logical Flaw
Boil It Down: Higher graduation rates have been correlated to flexible course choices. Balrose College’s graduation rates increased from 2013 to 2018. Therefore, the reason must be that they offered flexible course choices.
Goal: Find the option that would best criticize this frame of logic.
Analysis:
This question asks us to find a flaw in the argument as presented:
Conclusion: Balrose College offered greater flexibility in course choices in 2018 than in 2013.
Premise 1: Colleges will have higher grad rates if there is more flexibility.
Premise 2: The graduation rate at Balrose increased between 2013 and 2018.
The problem is that we are told that IF a college offers more flexibility THEN the grad rate increases, but that does not mean that IF the grad rate increases THEN the college offers more flexibility. In other words, as choice A states, offering more flexibility is SUFFICIENT for an outcome (higher grad rates) but we are not told that offering more flexibility is NECESSARY for that outcome. There may be other causes. This difference, between sufficiency and necessity, is an important one. Here’s another example: If a person is in business school, then he or she took the GMAT. This is (largely) a true statement. This means that being in business school is enough to say (is sufficient for) one having taken the GMAT. However, this If/Then statement cannot be reversed. One cannot conclude that if one takes the GMAT, then one is in business school. (You have to score well, decide to go to business school, etc.) Taking the GMAT is necessary but not sufficient.
(A) It assumes that a condition that is sufficient for a particular outcome is necessary for that outcome.
This is the correct choice. As explained in the analysis above, a condition that is sufficient for a particular outcome (offering more flexibility) does not have to be necessary. Balrose could have increased their graduation rate through some other means than offering more flexibility.
(B) It makes an assumption that is directly contradicted by the stated evidence.
There is no contradiction implied in the passage.
(C) It blurs the distinction between the cause of an outcome and the effect produced by that outcome.
There is no blurring of cause and effect. The cause is clearly given as more flexibility, and the effect is given as higher grad rates. This is not concludable, but there is no blurring of the two.
(D) It presents, without warrant, a particular case as if it were a general principle.
The case of Balrose is not used to support a general principle regarding grad rates. There is no generalizing to other schools, for example.
(E) It uses imprecise terms in order to draw a conclusion that is unsupported by the given statistical information.
None of the terms are imprecise. They all mean exactly what they appear to mean.
Don’t study for the GMAT. Train for it.
