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14 Nov 2019, 11:26
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In 1998 the United States Department of Transportation received nearly 10,000 consumer complaints about airlines; in 1999 it received over 20,000. Moreover, the number of complaints per 100,000 passengers also more than doubled. In both years the vast majority of complaints concerned flight delays, cancellations, mishandled baggage, and customer service. Clearly, therefore, despite the United States airline industry’s serious efforts to improve performance in these areas, passenger dissatisfaction with airline service increased significantly in 1999.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
A. Although the percentage of flights that arrived on time dropped slightly overall, from 77 percent in 1998 to 76 percent in 1999, some United States airlines’ 1999 on-time rate was actually better than their 1998 on-time rate.
B. The number of passengers flying on United States airlines was significantly higher in 1999 than in 1998.
C. Fewer bags per 1,000 passengers flying on United States airlines were lost or delayed in 1999 than in 1998.
D. The appearance in 1999 of many new Internet sites that relay complaints directly to the Department of Transportation has made filing a complaint about airlines much easier for consumers than ever before.
E. Although the number of consumer complaints increased for every major United States airline in 1999, for some airlines the extent of the increase was substantial, whereas for others it was extremely small.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
A. Although the percentage of flights that arrived on time dropped slightly overall, from 77 percent in 1998 to 76 percent in 1999, some United States airlines’ 1999 on-time rate was actually better than their 1998 on-time rate.
B. The number of passengers flying on United States airlines was significantly higher in 1999 than in 1998.
C. Fewer bags per 1,000 passengers flying on United States airlines were lost or delayed in 1999 than in 1998.
D. The appearance in 1999 of many new Internet sites that relay complaints directly to the Department of Transportation has made filing a complaint about airlines much easier for consumers than ever before.
E. Although the number of consumer complaints increased for every major United States airline in 1999, for some airlines the extent of the increase was substantial, whereas for others it was extremely small.
19 Nov 2019, 04:36
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SajjadAhmad
In 1998 the United States Department of Transportation received nearly 10,000 consumer complaints about airlines; in 1999 it received over 20,000. Moreover, the number of complaints per 100,000 passengers also more than doubled. In both years the vast majority of complaints concerned flight delays, cancellations, mishandled baggage, and customer service. Clearly, therefore, despite the United States airline industry’s serious efforts to improve performance in these areas, passenger dissatisfaction with airline service increased significantly in 1999.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
A. Although the percentage of flights that arrived on time dropped slightly overall, from 77 percent in 1998 to 76 percent in 1999, some United States airlines’ 1999 on-time rate was actually better than their 1998 on-time rate.
B. The number of passengers flying on United States airlines was significantly higher in 1999 than in 1998.
C. Fewer bags per 1,000 passengers flying on United States airlines were lost or delayed in 1999 than in 1998.
D. The appearance in 1999 of many new Internet sites that relay complaints directly to the Department of Transportation has made filing a complaint about airlines much easier for consumers than ever before.
E. Although the number of consumer complaints increased for every major United States airline in 1999, for some airlines the extent of the increase was substantial, whereas for others it was extremely small.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
A. Although the percentage of flights that arrived on time dropped slightly overall, from 77 percent in 1998 to 76 percent in 1999, some United States airlines’ 1999 on-time rate was actually better than their 1998 on-time rate.
B. The number of passengers flying on United States airlines was significantly higher in 1999 than in 1998.
C. Fewer bags per 1,000 passengers flying on United States airlines were lost or delayed in 1999 than in 1998.
D. The appearance in 1999 of many new Internet sites that relay complaints directly to the Department of Transportation has made filing a complaint about airlines much easier for consumers than ever before.
E. Although the number of consumer complaints increased for every major United States airline in 1999, for some airlines the extent of the increase was substantial, whereas for others it was extremely small.
1998:
- 10,000 consumer complaints about airlines
- Number of complaints per 100,000 passengers was say 1000
1999:
20,000 consumer complaints about airlines
- Number of complaints per 100,000 passengers also more than doubled so became say 2000
Number of complaints per 100,000 passengers has doubled too so an increase in the number of passengers cannot explain the increase in number of complaints from 10k to 20k. More percentage of people are complaining.
Conclusion: Despite the United States airline industry’s serious efforts to improve performance in these areas, passenger dissatisfaction with airline service increased significantly in 1999.
What can weaken it?
It does seem that more people are complaining so it would be natural to think that more people are unhappy. But what if more complaints came because people were encouraged to complain and talk about the problems they were facing. Since the industry was making efforts to improve, what if feedback was taken specifically from people? These people, though may have been unhappy before too but may not have complained.
A. Although the percentage of flights that arrived on time dropped slightly overall, from 77 percent in 1998 to 76 percent in 1999, some United States airlines’ 1999 on-time rate was actually better than their 1998 on-time rate.
Doesn't matter whether performance has improved or not. We need to know whether people's satisfaction has worsened.
B. The number of passengers flying on United States airlines was significantly higher in 1999 than in 1998.
As discussed before, number of passengers is irrelevant.
C. Fewer bags per 1,000 passengers flying on United States airlines were lost or delayed in 1999 than in 1998.
Doesn't matter whether performance has improved or not. We need to know whether people's satisfaction has worsened.
D. The appearance in 1999 of many new Internet sites that relay complaints directly to the Department of Transportation has made filing a complaint about airlines much easier for consumers than ever before.
Correct. Filing a complaint has become easier so more people are doing it. Even those who were unhappy before but didn't bother to file are now filing.
E. Although the number of consumer complaints increased for every major United States airline in 1999, for some airlines the extent of the increase was substantial, whereas for others it was extremely small.
We are talking about the industry as a whole.
Answer (D)
General Discussion
19 Nov 2019, 23:51
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In 1998 the United States Department of Transportation received nearly 10,000 consumer complaints about airlines; in 1999 it received over 20,000. Moreover, the number of complaints per 100,000 passengers also more than doubled. In both years the vast majority of complaints concerned flight delays, cancellations, mishandled baggage, and customer service. Clearly, therefore, despite the United States airline industry’s serious efforts to improve performance in these areas, passenger dissatisfaction with airline service increased significantly in 1999.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
A. Although the percentage of flights that arrived on time dropped slightly overall, from 77 percent in 1998 to 76 percent in 1999, some United States airlines’ 1999 on-time rate was actually better than their 1998 on-time rate. - INCORRECT. Some can be between 3 to 100. Moreover there's a decrease overall.
B. The number of passengers flying on United States airlines was significantly higher in 1999 than in 1998. - INCORRECT. Probable but a concrete reference of increase would have weaken the argument in scale we are looking for.
C. Fewer bags per 1,000 passengers flying on United States airlines were lost or delayed in 1999 than in 1998. - INCORRECT. Should strengthen otherwise though minutely.
D. The appearance in 1999 of many new Internet sites that relay complaints directly to the Department of Transportation has made filing a complaint about airlines much easier for consumers than ever before. - CORRECT. Ease of raising complaints boosted the amount of complaints even though 1999 could have been better in performance to 1998.
E. Although the number of consumer complaints increased for every major United States airline in 1999, for some airlines the extent of the increase was substantial, whereas for others it was extremely small. - INCORRECT. A comparison is not what which an weaken the argument. Irrelevant.
IMO Answer D.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
A. Although the percentage of flights that arrived on time dropped slightly overall, from 77 percent in 1998 to 76 percent in 1999, some United States airlines’ 1999 on-time rate was actually better than their 1998 on-time rate. - INCORRECT. Some can be between 3 to 100. Moreover there's a decrease overall.
B. The number of passengers flying on United States airlines was significantly higher in 1999 than in 1998. - INCORRECT. Probable but a concrete reference of increase would have weaken the argument in scale we are looking for.
C. Fewer bags per 1,000 passengers flying on United States airlines were lost or delayed in 1999 than in 1998. - INCORRECT. Should strengthen otherwise though minutely.
D. The appearance in 1999 of many new Internet sites that relay complaints directly to the Department of Transportation has made filing a complaint about airlines much easier for consumers than ever before. - CORRECT. Ease of raising complaints boosted the amount of complaints even though 1999 could have been better in performance to 1998.
E. Although the number of consumer complaints increased for every major United States airline in 1999, for some airlines the extent of the increase was substantial, whereas for others it was extremely small. - INCORRECT. A comparison is not what which an weaken the argument. Irrelevant.
IMO Answer D.
