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Posts: 83
Updated on: 21 May 2018, 21:01
Originally posted by SudiptoGmat on 30 Jan 2010, 06:28.
Last edited by Bunuel on 21 May 2018, 21:01, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by Bunuel on 21 May 2018, 21:01, edited 1 time in total.
Renamed the topic, edited the question and added the OA.
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:
50% (02:27) correct
50%
(02:35)
wrong
based on 291
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
The labor department program to improve car industry efficiency claims to have raised productivity by over 30% in the last four years. If these figures are accurate, this is a huge success. Senator Cunliff, a distinguished mathematician and a overall man of eminent brilliance, maintains, however, that the program could not possibly
have been successful. Clearly, therefore, the figures cited in the report cannot be accurate.
The argument above exhibits an erroneous pattern of reasoning most similar to that exhibited by which one of the following?
A. Albert's father claims that Albert does not know where the spare car keys are hidden. Yesterday however, Albert reported that he had discovered the spare car keys in the garage toolbox, so his father's claim cannot be true.
B. Gloria's drama teacher claims that her policy is to give each student the opportunity to act in at least one play during the year but, since Gloria, who attended every class, reports that she was not given such an opportunity the teacher's claim cannot be true.
C. Amos claims that he can hold his breath under water for a full hour. Dr. Treviso, a cardiopulmonary specialist, has stated that humans are physiologically incapable of holding their breath for even half that long; so Amos' claim cannot be true.
D. Evelyn reports that she got home before midnight. Robert, who always knows the time, insists that she did not. If Robert is right, Evelyn could not possibly have listened to the late news; since she admits not having listened to the late news, her report cannot be true.
E. Moira, after observing the finish of the 60-kilometer bicycle race, reports that Lee won with Adams a distant third. Lomas, a bicycle engineering expert, insists, however, that Lee could not have won a race in which Adams competed; so Moira's report cannot be true.
have been successful. Clearly, therefore, the figures cited in the report cannot be accurate.
The argument above exhibits an erroneous pattern of reasoning most similar to that exhibited by which one of the following?
A. Albert's father claims that Albert does not know where the spare car keys are hidden. Yesterday however, Albert reported that he had discovered the spare car keys in the garage toolbox, so his father's claim cannot be true.
B. Gloria's drama teacher claims that her policy is to give each student the opportunity to act in at least one play during the year but, since Gloria, who attended every class, reports that she was not given such an opportunity the teacher's claim cannot be true.
C. Amos claims that he can hold his breath under water for a full hour. Dr. Treviso, a cardiopulmonary specialist, has stated that humans are physiologically incapable of holding their breath for even half that long; so Amos' claim cannot be true.
D. Evelyn reports that she got home before midnight. Robert, who always knows the time, insists that she did not. If Robert is right, Evelyn could not possibly have listened to the late news; since she admits not having listened to the late news, her report cannot be true.
E. Moira, after observing the finish of the 60-kilometer bicycle race, reports that Lee won with Adams a distant third. Lomas, a bicycle engineering expert, insists, however, that Lee could not have won a race in which Adams competed; so Moira's report cannot be true.
Show SpoilerOFFICIAL EXPLANATION
OA: (E) Reason: This argument uses the 'appeal to authority' fallacy. This is when someone's credentials automatically establish something as fact and negate any opposing arguments. (A), (B), and (D) do not use appeals to authority. The two choices that improperly use an appeal are (C) and (E). (E) is better because it more closely resembles the passage because it attempts to use the information to negate an argument already made
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WOW - this is good. This is how I tackled it.
Let's split the question:
1.) LD to improve car efficiency increases production. If these figures are accurate then this is huge success.
2.) A brilliant mathematician claims, that however this could not true.
So, basically from the question - one claimed to increase something by so much. if the effort was correct then success. one expert says however ain't true. the erroneous pattern here (according to me), does not explain why the expert says that the claim cannot be true.
coming to ans:
a and b are clearly out.
c) amos claim to hold his breath, but an expert says he cannot = hold it (second suspect)
d) evelyn claims she came home before midnight, but robert who knows the time (but not an expert), said she did not = this kind off argument is not stated in the q/stem
e) moira reports lee won with adam's with a distant third, an expert says it cannot be possible. he does not say why it cannot be possible.
IMO it is "E".
I'll wait for more explanations and OA.
Let's split the question:
1.) LD to improve car efficiency increases production. If these figures are accurate then this is huge success.
2.) A brilliant mathematician claims, that however this could not true.
So, basically from the question - one claimed to increase something by so much. if the effort was correct then success. one expert says however ain't true. the erroneous pattern here (according to me), does not explain why the expert says that the claim cannot be true.
coming to ans:
a and b are clearly out.
c) amos claim to hold his breath, but an expert says he cannot = hold it (second suspect)
d) evelyn claims she came home before midnight, but robert who knows the time (but not an expert), said she did not = this kind off argument is not stated in the q/stem
e) moira reports lee won with adam's with a distant third, an expert says it cannot be possible. he does not say why it cannot be possible.
IMO it is "E".
I'll wait for more explanations and OA. 
mojorising800
Joined: 11 Dec 2009
Last visit: 05 Mar 2012
Posts: 111
Status:Its Wow or Never
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, Strategy
Schools: Tepper '14 Goizueta '14 ISB Tippie Kelley '14 Georgia Tech Mays Katz Kenan-Flagler '14 Schulich Smith '15
GMAT 1: 670 Q47 V35
GMAT 2: 710 Q48 V40
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Schools: Tepper '14 Goizueta '14 ISB Tippie Kelley '14 Georgia Tech Mays Katz Kenan-Flagler '14 Schulich Smith '15
GMAT 2: 710 Q48 V40
Posts: 111
SudiptoGmat
X(Labor Deptt) claims Y(Increase in eff)
If Y(increase in eff.)-> success
Z(some third person) ->Y not possible
Option E comes closest to the pattern in the stimulus.
E. X(Moira) claims Y(Lee won with Adams a distant third)
If Y(observation that Lee won) -> Lee won
Z(lamos -third person) -> Y not possible.
E acc to me..OA?
Posts: 83
mojorising800 great explanation. OA is E.
Engineer and the Senator both are not giving an reason why they are nullifying the success.
Engineer and the Senator both are not giving an reason why they are nullifying the success.
Posts: 15
what is wrong with c though?
i am confused between c and e
i am confused between c and e
b9n920
Joined: 02 Nov 2014
Last visit: 13 Sep 2016
Posts: 146
Schools: Molson '18 Ryerson'17 Great Lakes '17
GMAT Date: 08-04-2015
Products:
Schools: Molson '18 Ryerson'17 Great Lakes '17
Posts: 146
saroshgilani
Hi saroshgilani
I think the biggest difference between C and E is that, in C the specialist's opinion is a general one, not attacking the original claim directly. The Dr. is not concerned about Amos' record, but exposes a fundamental fact about human beings, isn't it. In E is the specialist directly hits Moira's claim.
But, I am not that impressed by this Q overall. The prompt first presented a causal argument, if A then B, and then a specialist opines that B is not true. On that basis, author claims that A cannot be true. I was looking for an answer choice that resembles this method of reasoning. But, alas, no choice actually does so.
Hope I helped a little.
Thanks
Nightmare007
Joined: 26 Aug 2016
Last visit: 05 Aug 2020
Posts: 425
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, International Business
Schools: ISB '20 (M) Simon '21 (WL)
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V33
GMAT 2: 700 Q50 V33
GMAT 3: 730 Q51 V38
GPA: 4
WE:Information Technology (Consulting)
Products:
The wordings Could not and Can not play the most important role.
Could not - -Has not been possible in the PAST and can be possible in the future.- Shows some probability i.e. It might happen but in rare cases.
Can not - - Can never be possible or Impossible events.
In C expert says - People are incapable - i.e. IMPOSSIBLE i.e. CANNOT
While E says - Lee could not have won the race. Throwing some probability and that he is leaned towards Lee not winning.
So C is out.
Could not - -Has not been possible in the PAST and can be possible in the future.- Shows some probability i.e. It might happen but in rare cases.
Can not - - Can never be possible or Impossible events.
In C expert says - People are incapable - i.e. IMPOSSIBLE i.e. CANNOT
While E says - Lee could not have won the race. Throwing some probability and that he is leaned towards Lee not winning.
So C is out.
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