Last visit was: 07 May 2026, 20:59

It is currently 07 May 2026, 20:59

Toolkit

Practice Tests

Verbal Archive [Locked]

CR Archive

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

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel

May 08
$10,000 MBA Scholarships Winners Drawing - Join & Watch the Lucky Winners
08:00 AM PDT
-
08:30 AM PDT
Join the special YouTube live-stream for selecting the winners of GMAT Club MBA Scholarships sponsored by Juno live. Watch who gets these coveted MBA scholarships offered by GMAT Club and Juno.

Back to Forum

Create Topic

In the Netherlands, a recent study conducted by scientists reveals

1 2

Mavisdu1017

Joined: 10 Aug 2021

Last visit: 04 Jan 2023

Posts: 341

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 226

Posts: 341

Kudos: 50

14 Jan 2022, 10:23

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hi expert,
I was stuck between C and E.
In C, I'm not sure what "biological capabilities" refers to, and I think a weaker biological capabilities maybe affect the ability of producing milk. If so, there won't be additional volume of milk generated---> can weaken the conclusion.

In E, although the long-term milk production capabilities are uncertain, the conclusion never mention the valid period of the great benefits. Even if the greater capabilities of producing milk are only in short-term(let's say only 1 year), we can also deduce the conclusion "the additional volume of milk will be generated"---->so it doesn't weaken the conclusion.

Could any expert help to elaborate? thanks

Founder

Joined: 04 Dec 2002

Last visit: 07 May 2026

Posts: 43,234

Own Kudos:

83,806

[2]

Given Kudos: 24,690

Location: United States

GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42 Verified score

GPA: 3

Products:

Expert

Expert reply

GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42 Verified score

Posts: 43,234

Kudos: 83,806

[2]

02 Feb 2022, 18:36

Kudos

Bookmarks

Mavisdu1017

I don't think I see it. The biological capabilities refers to the offspring. But who cares? The cows are used to produce milk not create offspring or to drive cars or to cut hair. The offspring as well as their car driving and haircutting skills are out of scope for this question....

Quote:

In E, although the long-term milk production capabilities are uncertain, the conclusion never mention the valid period of the great benefits. Even if the greater capabilities of producing milk are only in short-term(let's say only 1 year), we can also deduce the conclusion "the additional volume of milk will be generated"---->so it doesn't weaken the conclusion.

Could any expert help to elaborate? thanks

The study was done in a few weeks. Not year, did you miss that? How could you observe a cow for a year if the study only lasted a few weeks?

krndatta

Joined: 09 Feb 2020

Last visit: 17 Oct 2024

Posts: 379

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 433

Location: India

Posts: 379

Kudos: 46

06 Apr 2022, 23:20

Kudos

Bookmarks

bb
ExpertsGlobal5

Can we eliminate option C on the basis that we are talking about cloned cows and not about offspring's.
Furthermore, how the biological capabilities impact milk production is not mentioned in the passage above. We don't know that lower biological capabilities would lead to lower milk production or not?
We are assuming that lower biological capabilities would mean lower milk production(I was assuming when I marked this option :p)

Please share your two cents.

Thanks

CrackGMat656

Joined: 26 Jan 2021

Last visit: 18 Feb 2023

Posts: 26

Own Kudos:

Given Kudos: 205

Posts: 26

Kudos: 6

08 Apr 2022, 11:01

Kudos

Bookmarks

Why is D wrong ? isn't government banning is out of scope

ExpertsGlobal5

Experts' Global Representative

Joined: 10 Jul 2017

Last visit: 07 May 2026

Posts: 6,297

Own Kudos:

6,315

Given Kudos: 45

Location: India

GMAT Date: 11-01-2019

Expert

Expert reply

Posts: 6,297

Kudos: 6,315

Updated on: 11 Apr 2022, 15:46

Originally posted by ExpertsGlobal5 on 10 Apr 2022, 05:54.
Last edited by ExpertsGlobal5 on 11 Apr 2022, 15:46, edited 1 time in total.

Kudos

Bookmarks

krndatta

Hello krndatta,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, since producing milk is a biological process, lower biological capabilities may likely lead to mean less milk production. However, this has been said about the naturally born offsprings and not directly the cloned cows; hence, we don't need to worry much about the implication of the nature of "biological capabilities" here; this is a trap in the question.

We think you meant to say that we can select Option C (in that C does NOT weaken); if so, you are correct; the conclusion refers to the use of cloned cows, not their naturally born offspring, so Option C is irrelevant.

We hope this helps.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

ExpertsGlobal5

Experts' Global Representative

Joined: 10 Jul 2017

Last visit: 07 May 2026

Posts: 6,297

Own Kudos:

6,315

Given Kudos: 45

Location: India

GMAT Date: 11-01-2019

Expert

Expert reply

Posts: 6,297

Kudos: 6,315

Updated on: 11 Apr 2022, 15:38

Originally posted by ExpertsGlobal5 on 10 Apr 2022, 07:36.
Last edited by ExpertsGlobal5 on 11 Apr 2022, 15:38, edited 5 times in total.

Kudos

Bookmarks

CrackGMat656

Why is D wrong ? isn't government banning is out of scope

Hello CrackGMat656,

We hope this finds you well.

To answer your query, Option D states that the government may not approve mass-scale cloning; this implies that cloning may be allowed on a small scale; under such circumstances, using cloned cows instead of natural cows will not "greatly benefit" the milk products businesses because they will only have access to a smaller number of clones, meaning they will not be able to produce significantly greater amount of milk.

The mistake that you may have committed here is to read just "government ban" and not process its impact on the issue in hand; when "government ban" limits the scale of cloning, it weakens the likelihood of success of the plan; the businesses may still be able to use the cloned cows but, because of the lower scale, not "greatly benefit".

Another mistake you may be committing is not noticing the phrases "greatly beneficial" in the argument and "if true" in the question stem. Please read the bold parts below carefully once more to get all layers; these "if true...except" questions can be sometimes challenging.

Many businesses are now looking to use cloned cows instead of natural cows. Doing so will be greatly beneficial to milk products businesses because of the additional volume of milk generated.

"Each of the following, if true, would weaken the argument EXCEPT:"

We hope this helps.

All the best!
Experts' Global Team

IanStewart

GMAT Tutor

Joined: 24 Jun 2008

Last visit: 06 May 2026

Posts: 4,143

Own Kudos:

11,307

[2]

Given Kudos: 98

Expert

Expert reply

Posts: 4,143

Kudos: 11,307

[2]

10 Apr 2022, 08:16

Kudos

Bookmarks

CrackGMat656

Why is D wrong ? isn't government banning is out of scope

You're absolutely right. Answer D addresses how much cloning the milk companies will actually be able to do. That has nothing to do with how beneficial cloning would be if the companies could do it, which is what the argument talks about.

ExpertsGlobal5

Experts' Global Representative

Joined: 10 Jul 2017

Last visit: 07 May 2026

Posts: 6,297

Own Kudos:

6,315

Given Kudos: 45

Location: India

GMAT Date: 11-01-2019

Expert

Expert reply

Posts: 6,297

Kudos: 6,315

11 Apr 2022, 16:21

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hello Vibhav10,

We hear you. Many students will choose choice D, following your line of reasoning.

Please note certain important terms in the question here.

The argument says "Many businesses are looking to use cloned cows".
- The argument does not say that the business are looking to "switch" to using cloned cows.

The question stem is:
Doing so will be greatly beneficial to milk products businesses because of the additional volume of milk generated.
- "Doing so" refers to "using cloned cows".
- Please note the term "greatly benefit"; such extra words as "greatly" often have a role to play.

Choice D says "The government in the Netherlands may not approve mass-scale cloning."
- The choice says not approving "mass-scale" cloning; in limited extent, cloning may still be allowed.

Putting the aforesaid points together, choice D leads to a scenario that the businesses will be able to "use" the cloned cows but "not greatly benefit" from the use because of the ban on "mass-scale" cloning.

Getting why answer choice D may weaken does require processing several layers in the argument, question stem, and the answer choice.

A much easier way to getting this question correct is simply understanding that the conclusion refers to the use of cloned cows, not their naturally born offspring. So, Option C is irrelevant and thus, cannot weaken the argument. Many students will get confused in what is the nature of "biological capabilities" etc; the point is that the nature of those capabilities doesn't matter because "naturally born offsprings" are out of the scope of the conclusion; the subjective "biological capabilities" is a trap here,

Eliminating choice D requires significant reasoning. If you chose "D", a bigger mistake was to eliminate "C'. Remember, eliminating the obviously-correct answer choice is sometimes a bigger mistake than not being able to eliminate the difficult-to-eliminate choices.

Thanks.

Vibhav10

adstudy

rohan2345

In the Netherlands, a recent study conducted by scientists reveals that cloned cows produce greater volumes of milk than do naturally born cow. There is a strong reaction to this study by the milk products industry. Many businesses are now looking to use cloned cows instead of natural cows. Doing so will be greatly beneficial to milk products businesses because of the additional volume of milk generated.

Each of the following, if true, would weaken the argument EXCEPT:

A- The cost of maintaining a cloned cow is three times the cost of maintaining a naturally born cow.

B- The quality of milk by cloned cows is not suitable to create cheese, the most commonly sold milk product in the Netherlands.

C- The offspring through cloned cows are much weaker and will go on to have much lower biological capabilities than the natural cows.

D- The government in the Netherlands may not approve mass-scale cloning.

E- The study was done over a few weeks and the long-term milk production capabilities of cloned cows remain uncertain.

Source: Experts' Global.

Question Stem says,

1. Netherlands had a recent study where it was found that cloned cows produced GREATER VOLUMES of MILK than do naturally born cow.
(My thought process starts on this line with - only greater volume mentioned, quality not mentioned here. Thought can be used )

2. Reaction by the Milk Industry was positive and strong. Many businesses are NOW LOOKING to use cloned cows instead of natural cows.
(My thought process starts on the bold part. "Now Looking" means that they are weighing their options on this for going forward. Must be a very big step. Obviously have to look at budget and feasibility of Plan. Again this thought can be used.)

3. Conclusion as per author (Last Line of Stem) - If they go ahead with their PLANS OF A SWITCH from natural cows to cloned cows, they will BENEFIT BECAUSE of the GREATER VOLUME GENERATED.

Next Moving to options and finding option that is NOT A WEAKENER

rohan2345

A- The cost of maintaining a cloned cow is three times the cost of maintaining a naturally born cow..

Whoa !!.
Three times the cost ???.
Definitely a weakener because if a company starts production and their maintenance costs all of a sudden become higher than their profits. That is a big NO.
Hence definitely a weakener.

rohan2345

B- The quality of milk by cloned cows is not suitable to create cheese, the most commonly sold milk product in the Netherlands.

Hey If you don't have quality in your product (that too that sells the most) how are you gonna market and sell it.
Hence definitely a weakener.

rohan2345

C- The offspring through cloned cows are much weaker and will go on to have much lower biological capabilities than the natural cows.

Hmm... What is the scope of biological capabilities here ? Do we really have to consider this much into the future ?
Cannot assume so much here. Will keep this option for consideration as it
Does not look like a definite weakener

rohan2345

D- The government in the Netherlands may not approve mass-scale cloning.

If government does not approve. How to move forward on our plan. If no plan execution, No profits.
Hence definitely a weakener.

rohan2345

E- The study was done over a few weeks and the long-term milk production capabilities of cloned cows remain uncertain.

This option makes the study look like a small fraction of what companies are expecting as research before switching completely, production using natural cows to cloned cows. If companies not satisfied with research. They will not move forward with the plan as the plan, to start with, will most probably be cost intensive.
Hence definitely a weakener.

Hence from the above options, only C seems not weaken the conclusion.

the conclusion is - DOING SO will be beneficial to the milk industry
emphasis on doing so.....
the govt may not approve of the plan is not a weakener but merely says that the plan may not get initiated at all ,we cannot say that the plan will not be beneficial if its implemented
C is a weakener - it certainly and clearly states that offsprings are weaker and therefore the plan is only beneficial in the short term and thus this plan WILL NOT be beneficial
maybe iam wrong and would be glad if someone could confirm if iam correct or wrong , thanks

Druecker

Joined: 29 Nov 2025

Last visit: 26 Mar 2026

Posts: 2

Given Kudos: 2

Posts: 2

Kudos: 0

01 Dec 2025, 10:26

Kudos

Bookmarks

I'm confused why A is considered a weakening answer in the cloned-cow CR question.
The conclusion says cloned cows are beneficial because they produce more milk.
It does not mention profitability, cost efficiency, or any financial dimension at all — only increased volume as the basis for the benefit.
Given that, why should A (cloned cows cost 3× more to maintain) be treated as a weakening answer?
If the argument defines “beneficial” solely in terms of milk volume — not financial outcome — then higher maintenance costs shouldn’t weaken the claim, because the cows still produce more milk.
Based on the text, the only option that truly does not weaken is C, since offspring quality doesn’t impact current milk volume.
So my question is:
Should financial considerations count as weakening if the argument never frames “benefit” in financial terms?
Or is the GMAT implicitly assuming “beneficial” = “economically beneficial”?

rohan2345

miag

Verbal Forum Moderator

Joined: 10 Dec 2023

Last visit: 01 May 2026

Posts: 404

Own Kudos:

160

[1]

Given Kudos: 737

Location: India

Concentration: Marketing, Sustainability

Schools: Anderson '26 (A) Haas '26 (A) Kellogg '26 (A)

GMAT Focus 1: 675 Q87 V83 DI80 Verified score

GPA: 3.2/4

Products:

Expert

Expert reply

Schools: Anderson '26 (A) Haas '26 (A) Kellogg '26 (A)

GMAT Focus 1: 675 Q87 V83 DI80 Verified score

Posts: 404

Kudos: 160

[1]

01 Dec 2025, 23:11

Kudos

Bookmarks

Hi,

A) weakens because:

The conclusion is actually not just about cloned cows making more milk. Its about how this will lead to greatly beneficial milk product businesses. This becomes the conclusion: Using cloned cows will be greatly beneficial to milk-products businesses because of the extra milk volume.
If maintenance is 3x greater then the benefits from the additional volume of milk can be outweighed by the cost.
C) doesn't weaken because the scope of the conclusion is current milk volume from cloned cows not volume by future offspring

Hope this helps!

Druecker

nikita.nanda1810

Joined: 20 Nov 2023

Last visit: 06 Mar 2026

Posts: 10

Location: India

Posts: 10

Kudos: 0

01 Feb 2026, 08:30

Kudos

Bookmarks

karishma Can you please help explain how 'D' is a weakener?

AbhishekP220108

Joined: 04 Aug 2024

Last visit: 07 May 2026

Posts: 534

Own Kudos:

234

Given Kudos: 139

GMAT Focus 1: 555 Q81 V78 DI74 Verified score

Products:

GMAT Focus 1: 555 Q81 V78 DI74 Verified score

Posts: 534

Kudos: 234

01 Feb 2026, 08:45

Kudos

Bookmarks

nikita.nanda1810 The Author concludes that if businesses starts using the cloned cows, then it will be beneficial for them because they will be getting additional vol. of milk. And these businesses are considering to do so. Since A,B and E are pretty easy to eliminate as an odd one out. C is also quite straight that it's not a weakner because we are not bothered about offsprings because they are not main elements of the argument. Now looking at D you may think how does govt approval affects the businesses.

Think this way the Netherland govt was looking at the study and they found out something concerning about mass scale cloning. So if mass scale cloning may not be approved then the business who are considering to replace their natural cows will not get the cloned cows and eventually to get benefits of extra volume will not be successful.

Hope this helps

nikita.nanda1810

karishma Can you please help explain how 'D' is a weakener?

guddo

Joined: 25 May 2021

Last visit: 07 May 2026

Posts: 1,114

Own Kudos:

11,634

Given Kudos: 32

Posts: 1,114

Kudos: 11,634

01 Feb 2026, 09:00

Kudos

Bookmarks

______________________
The question is archived.

Archived Topic

Hi there,

This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.

Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Critical Reasoning (CR) Forum

Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.

Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!