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how to know that other options can safely be ruled out without ever checking twice all of those options?
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chessgiants
how to know that other options can safely be ruled out without ever checking twice all of those options?

I think for that you need to keep in mind the basic understanding of Assumption question:
1)In Assumption question the new information from the answer choice is considered correct.
2) Always remember the makers of the GMAT considered their Arguments to be airtight, that is they believe that there is now flaw in their argument.
Especially in case of Cause and effect problems keep the following point in mind:
a)there is only one cause for any effect.
b) if the cause happens then the effect will happen too.

Don't go gentle into that good night.
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nightblade354
People with high blood pressure are generally more nervous and anxious than people who do not have high blood pressure. This fact show that this particular combination of personality traits—the so-called hypertensive personality— is likely to cause a person with these traits to develop high blood pressure. The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument

A. fails to define the term “hypertensive personality”
B. presupposes that people have permanent personality traits
C. simply restates the claim that there is a “hypertensive personality” without providing evidence to support that claim.
D. takes a correlation between personality traits and high blood pressure as proof that the traits cause high blood pressure.
E. focuses on nervousness and anxiety only, ignoring other personality traits that people with high blood pressure might have


Source: LSAT and MGMAT


hi..

lets rewrite the PARA in simple terms..
people with high BP found with two negative personality traits. further the combination of these two traits leads to high BP in such people

clearly D flows out of it but lets see other choices also
A. fails to define the term “hypertensive personality”
the para is not about the definition

B. presupposes that people have permanent personality traits
Nowhere does it speak of permanent traits

C. simply restates the claim that there is a “hypertensive personality” without providing evidence to support that claim.
Again out of context

D. takes a correlation between personality traits and high blood pressure as proof that the traits cause high blood pressure.
This is what the para uses for argument.. CORRECT

E. focuses on nervousness and anxiety only, ignoring other personality traits that people with high blood pressure might have
Likely to be mistaken as correct.. the para talks of the effect of the two traits and does not speak of others. even if there are other traits, it does not weaken the argument

D
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nightblade354
People with high blood pressure are generally more nervous and anxious than people who do not have high blood pressure. This fact show that this particular combination of personality traits—the so-called hypertensive personality— is likely to cause a person with these traits to develop high blood pressure. The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument

A. fails to define the term “hypertensive personality”
B. presupposes that people have permanent personality traits
C. simply restates the claim that there is a “hypertensive personality” without providing evidence to support that claim.
D. takes a correlation between personality traits and high blood pressure as proof that the traits cause high blood pressure.
E. focuses on nervousness and anxiety only, ignoring other personality traits that people with high blood pressure might have


Source: LSAT and MGMAT

The argument states that "People with high blood pressure" let's assume this to be A are "more nervous and anxious", let's call this B. The argument then goes on to state the reverse i.e people with B traits are likely to be A.
Thus the argument assumes that reverse is true which may not be the case and hence can be criticized

A. fails to define the term “hypertensive personality” -------Irrelevant

B. presupposes that people have permanent personality traits ---------does not breaks the causality

C. simply restates the claim that there is a “hypertensive personality” without providing evidence to support that claim.------the passage is not trying to establish that there is a "hypertnesive personality". the passage is about a cause and effect relationship

D. takes a correlation between personality traits and high blood pressure as proof that the traits cause high blood pressure.-----Correct. the argument assumes that if A cause B then B must cause A

E. focuses on nervousness and anxiety only, ignoring other personality traits that people with high blood pressure might have------Out of scope. the passage does not talk about "other personality traits"
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Statement says... A causes B .. Hence B will have A...
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[quote="sinha07"]People with high blood pressure are generally more nervous and anxious than people who do not have high blood pressure. This fact show that this particular combination of personality traits-the so called hypertensive personality-is likely to cause a person with these traits to develop high blood pressure.

The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument

(A) fails to define the term “hypertensive personality”
(B) presupposes that people have permanent personality traits
(C) simply restates the claim that there is a “hypertensive personality” without providing evidence to support that claim.
(D) takes a correlation between personality traits and high blood pressure as proof that the traits cause high blood pressure.
(E) focuses on nervousness and anxiety only, ignoring other personality traits that people with high blood pressure might have

I need help to understand the premise

{ this fact show that THIS particular combination of personality traits - what does Traits here refer to}
Is it referring to people who has high blood pressure and people who don't have high blood pressure}

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rajatbanik


I need help to understand the premise

{ this fact show that THIS particular combination of personality traits - what does Traits here refer to}
Is it referring to people who has high blood pressure and people who don't have high blood pressure}

GMATNinjaTwo

The traits are nervousness and anxiousness. Combination- nervousness+anxiousness

High blood pressure(HBP) sometimes causes a person to show these traits(correlation). The conclusion wrongly takes this combination as the cause of HBP.
Hope it helps.
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