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souvik101990
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Concentration: Leadership, General Management
Schools: Ross '20 (M)
GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42
GMAT 2: 740 Q49 V42 (Online)
GMAT 3: 760 Q50 V42 (Online)
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Updated on: 05 Nov 2018, 07:07
Originally posted by souvik101990 on 03 Oct 2017, 12:57.
Last edited by Bunuel on 05 Nov 2018, 07:07, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by Bunuel on 05 Nov 2018, 07:07, edited 1 time in total.
Renamed the topic and edited the question.
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A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
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based on 1779
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In a taste test, participants were asked to try two versions of a cola: one regular and one called "Cola Extra" that contained an additional secret ingredient. Two different groups of tasters were told in advance which sample was "Cola Extra", but only the second group was told that the secret ingredient in "Cola Extra" was white vinegar. Members of the first group preferred “Cola Extra” by a margin of almost two to one, while over 80% of the members of the second group preferred the regular cola.
If the statements above are all true, which of the following can properly be inferred on the basis of them?
(A) Knowing the identity of a beverage's ingredients may affect a consumer's enjoyment of that beverage.
(B) The version of “Cola Extra” given to the second group contained a higher concentration of white vinegar than the version given to the first group.
(C) Most members of the second group do not enjoy the taste of white vinegar.
(D) Members of the first group were given the “Cola Extra” sample first, leaving an aftertaste that negatively influenced the taste of the regular cola.
(E) Beverage companies producing colas should not reveal the identity of their colas' secret ingredients.
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If the statements above are all true, which of the following can properly be inferred on the basis of them?
(A) Knowing the identity of a beverage's ingredients may affect a consumer's enjoyment of that beverage.
(B) The version of “Cola Extra” given to the second group contained a higher concentration of white vinegar than the version given to the first group.
(C) Most members of the second group do not enjoy the taste of white vinegar.
(D) Members of the first group were given the “Cola Extra” sample first, leaving an aftertaste that negatively influenced the taste of the regular cola.
(E) Beverage companies producing colas should not reveal the identity of their colas' secret ingredients.
Verbal Question of The Day: Day 117: Critical Reasoning
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03 Oct 2017, 12:58
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Passages accompanied by inference questions often consist of nothing more than a list of facts or a description of a scenario. This makes it difficult or impossible to apply our usual advice, which is to start with the conclusion or the heart of the passage. Regardless, before diving into the answer choices, make sure you clearly understand the given information and pay close attention to the author's word choice:
The taste test involved two different groups of testers and two different types of cola: regular and extra. The identities of the samples were revealed to both groups in advance, so the tasters all knew which sample was regular cola and which sample was Cola Extra. However, only the second group was told that the secret ingredient in the Cola Extra was white vinegar.
The results of the taste test were as follows:
Based on this information, which of the following can be properly inferred?
Choice (C) might be tempting, but compare it to choice (A), which only says that knowing the identity of a beverages' ingredients may affect a consumer's enjoyment of that beverage. If choice (C) said that "most members of the second group might not enjoy the taste of white vinegar," it would be a safer inference. However, without further evidence, choice (C) cannot be properly inferred.
Even though some of the other choices might make sense, choice (A) is the best answer.
The taste test involved two different groups of testers and two different types of cola: regular and extra. The identities of the samples were revealed to both groups in advance, so the tasters all knew which sample was regular cola and which sample was Cola Extra. However, only the second group was told that the secret ingredient in the Cola Extra was white vinegar.
The results of the taste test were as follows:
- Members of the first group (who did NOT know the identity of the secret ingredient) preferred “Cola Extra” by a margin of almost two to one.
- Over 80% of the members of the second group (who DID know the identity of the secret ingredient) preferred the regular cola.
Based on this information, which of the following can be properly inferred?
Quote:
Members of the first group did not know the identity of the secret ingredient, and most of them preferred Cola Extra. On the other hand, members of the second group DID know the identity of the secret ingredient, and most of them preferred the regular cola. This implies that knowing the identity of the secret ingredient impacted the tasters' enjoyment of Cola Extra. Choice (A) is consistent with the evidence in the passage, so let's hang on to it.
Quote:
Although this unlikely scenario, if true, could in fact explain the results of the taste test, there is nothing in the passage suggesting that this is the case. All we know is that one group knew the identity of the secret ingredient and the other did not, and this is not enough to support choice (B).
Quote:
We know that most members of the second group preferred the regular cola, but we do not know why they preferred the regular cola. Choice (C) offers a possible explanation for the results, but there is no strong evidence suggesting that this is actually the case.
Choice (C) might be tempting, but compare it to choice (A), which only says that knowing the identity of a beverages' ingredients may affect a consumer's enjoyment of that beverage. If choice (C) said that "most members of the second group might not enjoy the taste of white vinegar," it would be a safer inference. However, without further evidence, choice (C) cannot be properly inferred.
Quote:
Again, we have a possible explanation for the results. Even though choice (D) might make sense, the passage does not suggest that this is actually what happened. As with choice (C), this statement cannot be properly inferred without further evidence. Choice (A) is still a better option, so eliminate (D).
Quote:
The results of the taste test might suggest that beverage companies should not reveal the identity of their colas' secret ingredient IF that secret ingredient happens to be white vinegar, but we do not know whether, in general, it is a bad idea to reveal the secret ingredients. Perhaps a more pleasant-sounding secret ingredient would actually attract consumers and enhance their enjoyment of the beverage. Choice (E) is too general and can be eliminated.
Even though some of the other choices might make sense, choice (A) is the best answer.
General Discussion
gmatexam439
GMAT 1: 730 Q49 V41
Posts: 1,054
03 Oct 2017, 13:24
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Another difficult. Awaiting OA.
In a taste test, participants were asked to try two versions of a cola: one regular and one called "Cola Extra" that contained an additional secret ingredient. Two different groups of tasters were told in advance which sample was "Cola Extra", but only the second group was told that the secret ingredient in "Cola Extra" was white vinegar. Members of the first group preferred “Cola Extra” by a margin of almost two to one, while over 80% of the members of the second group preferred the regular cola.
If the statements above are all true, which of the following can properly be inferred on the basis of them?
(A) Knowing the identity of a beverage's ingredients may affect a consumer's enjoyment of that beverage. -By POE, this is correct. Also this must be consistent with the information provided, since the people's choice seem to have changed post the knowledge of vinegar in drink.
(B) The version of “Cola Extra” given to the second group contained a higher concentration of white vinegar than the version given to the first group. - This can't be correct, else the whole purpose of the experiment would not be solved.
(C) Most members of the second group do not enjoy the taste of white vinegar. - We can't really say this. Maybe the expectations weren't high from the beginning since they knew that the drink contains vinegar.
(D) Members of the first group were given the “Cola Extra” sample first, leaving an aftertaste that negatively influenced the taste of the regular cola. -This can be assumption, not the inference.
(E) Beverage companies producing colas should not reveal the identity of their colas' secret ingredients. -Again this can be the assumption, not the inference.
In a taste test, participants were asked to try two versions of a cola: one regular and one called "Cola Extra" that contained an additional secret ingredient. Two different groups of tasters were told in advance which sample was "Cola Extra", but only the second group was told that the secret ingredient in "Cola Extra" was white vinegar. Members of the first group preferred “Cola Extra” by a margin of almost two to one, while over 80% of the members of the second group preferred the regular cola.
If the statements above are all true, which of the following can properly be inferred on the basis of them?
(A) Knowing the identity of a beverage's ingredients may affect a consumer's enjoyment of that beverage. -By POE, this is correct. Also this must be consistent with the information provided, since the people's choice seem to have changed post the knowledge of vinegar in drink.
(B) The version of “Cola Extra” given to the second group contained a higher concentration of white vinegar than the version given to the first group. - This can't be correct, else the whole purpose of the experiment would not be solved.
(C) Most members of the second group do not enjoy the taste of white vinegar. - We can't really say this. Maybe the expectations weren't high from the beginning since they knew that the drink contains vinegar.
(D) Members of the first group were given the “Cola Extra” sample first, leaving an aftertaste that negatively influenced the taste of the regular cola. -This can be assumption, not the inference.
(E) Beverage companies producing colas should not reveal the identity of their colas' secret ingredients. -Again this can be the assumption, not the inference.
