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30 Jun 2025, 08:00
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C
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
85%
(hard)
Question Stats:
38% (01:33) correct
62%
(01:44)
wrong
based on 909
sessions
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More gym memberships are bought in the town of Schwartz than in the town of Talsberg. Therefore, the citizens of Schwartz exercise more frequently than do the citizens of Talsberg.
Each of the following, if true, weakens the conclusion above EXCEPT:
A. Schwartz has a larger population than Talsberg does.
B. Most citizens of Talsberg work in Schwartz and have memberships in gyms there.
C. The average price of a gym membership is lower in Schwartz than it is in Talsberg.
D. A large, free community gym open to all is available to the citizens of Talsberg.
E. The average citizen of Schwartz spends less time at the gym per week than does the average citizen of Talsberg.
Each of the following, if true, weakens the conclusion above EXCEPT:
A. Schwartz has a larger population than Talsberg does.
B. Most citizens of Talsberg work in Schwartz and have memberships in gyms there.
C. The average price of a gym membership is lower in Schwartz than it is in Talsberg.
D. A large, free community gym open to all is available to the citizens of Talsberg.
E. The average citizen of Schwartz spends less time at the gym per week than does the average citizen of Talsberg.
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30 Jun 2025, 08:30
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Experts' Global Explanation:
Mind-map: More gym memberships are bought in town S than in town T à town S citizens exercise more frequently than town T citizens (conclusion)
Missing-link: Between more gym memberships being bought in town S than in town T and the conclusion that town S citizens exercise more frequently than town T citizens
Expectation from the correct answer choice: To NOT weaken the conclusion that town S citizens exercise more frequently than town T citizens
A. Trap. By suggesting that Schwartz’s population is greater than Talsberg’s population, this answer choice explains why more gym memberships are bought in Schwartz than in Talsberg and indicates the possibility that Schwartz’s citizens may not necessarily be exercising more frequently than the citizens of Talsberg; such a possibility weakens the conclusion. Because this answer choice weakens the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.
B. By suggesting that Talsberg citizens have gym memberships in Schwartz gyms, this answer choice indicates that the gym membership numbers in both the towns are not accurate and casts doubt on any inference based on the numbers; such a doubt weakens the conclusion. Because this answer choice weakens the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.
C. Correct. Lower average price of gym membership makes no definite suggestion about the frequency of exercising; it is possible that Schwartz’s lower gym membership prices indicate lower demand for gyms, suggesting that Schwartz’s citizens may not necessarily be exercising more frequently than the citizens of Talsberg, thus weakening the conclusion; on the other hand, Schwartz’s lower gym membership prices may indicate competition among gyms, suggesting higher demand for gyms and that Schwartz’s citizens may be exercising more frequently than the citizens of Talsberg, thus strengthening the conclusion. Overall, this answer choice is just additional information and does not definitely weaken the conclusion. Because this answer choice weakens the conclusion, this answer choice is correct.
D. By suggesting that a free gym open to all is available in Talsberg, this answer choice indicates that the citizens of Talsberg may not need gym memberships, thus explaining why more gym memberships are bought in Schwartz than in Talsberg and indicating the possibility that Schwartz’s citizens may not necessarily be exercising more frequently than the citizens of Talsberg; such a possibility weakens the conclusion. Because this answer choice weakens the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.
E. Trap. By suggesting that, on average, the citizens of Schwartz spend less time per week at the gym than the citizens of Talsberg, this answer choice casts doubt on whether Schwartz citizens exercise more frequently than Talsberg citizens; such a doubt weakens the conclusion. Because this answer choice weakens the conclusion, this answer choice is incorrect.
C is the best choice.
General Discussion
30 Jun 2025, 08:11
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Premise: More gym memberships are bought in Schwartz than in Talsberg.
Conclusion: Therefore, the citizens of Schwartz exercise more frequently than do the citizens of Talsberg.
We are to find the option that does NOT weaken (i.e., could support or be irrelevant to) this conclusion.
Let’s analyze each option:
A. Schwartz has a larger population than Talsberg does.
Effect: If Schwartz has a larger population, then more gym memberships overall might simply be due to more people, not necessarily because a higher percentage or frequency of people exercise more.
Does it weaken? Yes, because it shows the higher number of memberships doesn’t necessarily mean higher frequency of exercise per person.
Eliminated (because it weakens the conclusion)
B. Most citizens of Talsberg work in Schwartz and have memberships in gyms there.
Effect: This shows that many of the gym memberships counted in Schwartz are actually used by Talsberg residents.
Does it weaken? Yes, because the conclusion falsely attributes those memberships to Schwartz residents.
Eliminated (because it weakens the conclusion)
C. The average price of a gym membership is lower in Schwartz than it is in Talsberg.
Effect: If memberships are cheaper in Schwartz, people might buy them even if they don’t use them much — so higher number of memberships doesn’t guarantee more exercise.
Does it weaken? Yes, because it shows the number of memberships might be inflated due to cost, not exercise habits.
Eliminated (because it weakens the conclusion)
D. A large, free community gym open to all is available to the citizens of Talsberg.
Effect: This explains why fewer paid gym memberships are bought in Talsberg — people use the free gym.
Does it weaken? Yes, because it shows that Talsberg citizens may still be exercising frequently, just not through purchased gym memberships.
Eliminated (because it weakens the conclusion)
E. The average citizen of Schwartz spends less time at the gym per week than does the average citizen of Talsberg.
Effect: Directly contradicts the idea that Schwartz citizens exercise more frequently — they spend less time at the gym.
Does it weaken? Yes, because it shows less frequent or shorter exercise.
-> Eliminated (because it weakens the conclusion)
None of these options support the argument. But the question asks for the option that does NOT weaken it.
All 5 options weaken the argument in different ways — but the question is phrased as an EXCEPT question, so we need the one that least undermines the conclusion.
Reassessing for the LEAST WEAKENING option:
Let’s rank them in terms of weakening power:
B (Talsberg citizens own Schwartz memberships) → Strongly weakens
D (Free gym in Talsberg) → Strongly weakens
E (Less gym time in Schwartz) → Strongly weakens
C (Lower gym cost in Schwartz) → Moderately weakens
A (Larger population in Schwartz) → Least weakening
Even though A does weaken slightly, it’s mostly a context fact — the number of memberships is a raw number, not normalized. But it doesn’t directly attack exercise frequency as clearly as B, D, E do.
✅ Correct Answer: A
Because it does not significantly weaken the conclusion, while the other options do.
Conclusion: Therefore, the citizens of Schwartz exercise more frequently than do the citizens of Talsberg.
We are to find the option that does NOT weaken (i.e., could support or be irrelevant to) this conclusion.
Let’s analyze each option:
A. Schwartz has a larger population than Talsberg does.
Effect: If Schwartz has a larger population, then more gym memberships overall might simply be due to more people, not necessarily because a higher percentage or frequency of people exercise more.
Does it weaken? Yes, because it shows the higher number of memberships doesn’t necessarily mean higher frequency of exercise per person.
Eliminated (because it weakens the conclusion)
B. Most citizens of Talsberg work in Schwartz and have memberships in gyms there.
Effect: This shows that many of the gym memberships counted in Schwartz are actually used by Talsberg residents.
Does it weaken? Yes, because the conclusion falsely attributes those memberships to Schwartz residents.
Eliminated (because it weakens the conclusion)
C. The average price of a gym membership is lower in Schwartz than it is in Talsberg.
Effect: If memberships are cheaper in Schwartz, people might buy them even if they don’t use them much — so higher number of memberships doesn’t guarantee more exercise.
Does it weaken? Yes, because it shows the number of memberships might be inflated due to cost, not exercise habits.
Eliminated (because it weakens the conclusion)
D. A large, free community gym open to all is available to the citizens of Talsberg.
Effect: This explains why fewer paid gym memberships are bought in Talsberg — people use the free gym.
Does it weaken? Yes, because it shows that Talsberg citizens may still be exercising frequently, just not through purchased gym memberships.
Eliminated (because it weakens the conclusion)
E. The average citizen of Schwartz spends less time at the gym per week than does the average citizen of Talsberg.
Effect: Directly contradicts the idea that Schwartz citizens exercise more frequently — they spend less time at the gym.
Does it weaken? Yes, because it shows less frequent or shorter exercise.
-> Eliminated (because it weakens the conclusion)
None of these options support the argument. But the question asks for the option that does NOT weaken it.
All 5 options weaken the argument in different ways — but the question is phrased as an EXCEPT question, so we need the one that least undermines the conclusion.
Reassessing for the LEAST WEAKENING option:
Let’s rank them in terms of weakening power:
B (Talsberg citizens own Schwartz memberships) → Strongly weakens
D (Free gym in Talsberg) → Strongly weakens
E (Less gym time in Schwartz) → Strongly weakens
C (Lower gym cost in Schwartz) → Moderately weakens
A (Larger population in Schwartz) → Least weakening
Even though A does weaken slightly, it’s mostly a context fact — the number of memberships is a raw number, not normalized. But it doesn’t directly attack exercise frequency as clearly as B, D, E do.
✅ Correct Answer: A
Because it does not significantly weaken the conclusion, while the other options do.
