Bunuel wrote:
Just as a bicycle chain may be too tight, so may one’s carefulness and conscientiousness be so tense as to hinder the running of one’s mind.
Which one of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument?
(A) Bicycle chains are used to turn wheels, but the human mind is used to “turn” ideas.
(B) People and bicycles are similar only in that both may not function well under stress.
(C) Bicycles help people with transportation, but careful, conscientious thought helps to solve many different problems.
(D) Extreme tension helps a bicycle chain to function efficiently.
(E) People engage in poor reasoning whether they are careful and conscientious or not.
This is not a GMAT type question so I will not worry too much about it.
Answer is (D) by elimination. Nothing else is relevant.
Bicycle chain may be too tight. Similarly, one's carefulness may be so tense as to hinder the running of mind.
So it is saying that the bicycle chain may be too tight and that could hinder the functioning of the bicycle. Similar thing could happen in the mind.
Option (D) says that extreme tension actually helps in better functioning in bicycle. So the entire logic of the comparison falls.
(A) Bicycle chains are used to turn wheels, but the human mind is used to “turn” ideas.
Doesn't harm the comparison. Whatever may be involved in the "functioning" of the bicycle and mind, it doesn't matter. The point being made is that too much tension hampers their functioning.
(B) People and bicycles are similar only in that both may not function well under stress.
The argument is not looking for any other similarities.
(C) Bicycles help people with transportation, but careful, conscientious thought helps to solve many different problems.
Again, the exact uses of the bicycle vs the mind are not being debated.
(E) People engage in poor reasoning whether they are careful and conscientious or not.
We cannot say that "poor reasoning" is the effect when running of one's mind is hindered. For example, the effect could be not being able to reason at all. Whether the reasoning is smart or poor could very well not be in the picture at all.
Also, even if no carefulness leads to poor reasoning, too much carefulness could lead to it too. So it doesn't weaken our conclusion.
Answer (D)