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655-705 (Hard)|   Weaken|      
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adityaa098
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In the last two years alone, nearly a dozen of Central 16 Sep 2020, 05:16
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Perfect question to factor in GMATNinja 's methodology of teaching that modifiers changes what the correct option choice will be. The remuneration is to be increased so that the ranking can be maintained. However, since only one factor (as mentioned in option D) is considered while deciding the rankings, D is the correct answer.
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In the last two years alone, nearly a dozen of Central 28 Nov 2020, 10:45
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SOURH7WK
In the last two years alone, nearly a dozen of Central University's most prominent professors have been lured away by the higher salaries offered by competing academic institutions. In order to protect the school's ranking, Central University's president has proposed increasing tuition by 10% and using the extra money to offer more attractive compensation packages to the most talented and well-known members of its faculty.

Which of the following provides the most persuasive argument against the university president's proposed course of action?

A) It is inevitable that at least some members of the faculty will ultimately take jobs at other universities, regardless of how much Central University offers to pay them.
OK even if true, but the plan might still work. not a 100% weakener. eliminate

B) Other universities are also looking for ways to provide higher salaries to prominent members of the faculty.
OK, they might increase like 12% and CU plan will not work. weakened. BUT they might also increase salaries only 1%, therefore "CU" plan will work. shaky.

C) Central University slipped in the last year's ranking of regional schools.
OK, but will it tell us that our plan will work or not? no. eliminate

D) The single most important factor in ranking a university is its of racial and socioeconomic diversity.
CU wants the ranking to be kept. ranking is independent from the elite members, but dependent to diversity. so CU plan will definitely not work

E) The president of Central University has only been in office for 18 months and has never managed such a large enterprise.
ok but it is no proof that he will fail. many newcomers perform quite well. this option tickles out stereotypes!
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In the last two years alone, nearly a dozen of Central 06 Nov 2021, 10:21
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Here the phrase "single most" seems to be in conflict. If it is the most important factor, then it means there are other factors too, which attribute to the Ranking of the University. At the same time if it is a single factor, then it means there are no other factors, which influences the Ranking of the University.

I discarded the option D based on the mention of "most" factors. It implies that there are other factors too influencing the raking, and who knows that Salary is one of these less important factors.
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In the last two years alone, nearly a dozen of Central 07 Sep 2025, 14:08
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I am a bit iffy on this. "The single most important factor" does not mean the only factor as most people are saying in the comments. Which is why I was very concerned when picking D. The second most important factor could be quality of faculty and that could very well protect/diminish the uni's ranking. It could be the case that the uni has a very high diversity already and instead needs to work on their faculty strength in order to protect their ranking. Too many holes option D has imo
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In the last two years alone, nearly a dozen of Central 07 Sep 2025, 23:33
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Remember that we don't need to disprove the conclusion; we just need to cast doubt. We don't know what importance, if any, the retention of star faculty has in maintaining the school's ranking. D tells us that something else is the MOST important. And, importantly, one part of that factor is economic--the school will benefit from attracting a wide range of students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. So not only might they benefit from spending their money on something else (scholarships, programs to increase diversity), but they might actually lose lower-income students if they raise tuition by 10%. This certainly casts doubt on the effectiveness of the plan. Could it still be a great idea? Sure, given more info, it might turn out to be the absolute best thing to do for rankings. But with what we know now, it doesn't look promising.
Pranavsawant
I am a bit iffy on this. "The single most important factor" does not mean the only factor as most people are saying in the comments. Which is why I was very concerned when picking D. The second most important factor could be quality of faculty and that could very well protect/diminish the uni's ranking. It could be the case that the uni has a very high diversity already and instead needs to work on their faculty strength in order to protect their ranking. Too many holes option D has imo
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Pranavsawant
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In the last two years alone, nearly a dozen of Central 08 Sep 2025, 06:23
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That's a good argument Dmitry, thank you! I need to look out for such questions where it doesn't destroy the argument but certainly casts a lot of doubt on it.
DmitryFarber
Remember that we don't need to disprove the conclusion; we just need to cast doubt. We don't know what importance, if any, the retention of star faculty has in maintaining the school's ranking. D tells us that something else is the MOST important. And, importantly, one part of that factor is economic--the school will benefit from attracting a wide range of students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. So not only might they benefit from spending their money on something else (scholarships, programs to increase diversity), but they might actually lose lower-income students if they raise tuition by 10%. This certainly casts doubt on the effectiveness of the plan. Could it still be a great idea? Sure, given more info, it might turn out to be the absolute best thing to do for rankings. But with what we know now, it doesn't look promising.

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