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24 Apr 2025, 21:58
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Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
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This is an excerpt from the chapter "Weaken the Conclusion" in our book "EducationAisle Critical Reasoning Nirvana":
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Patterns in Weaken the Conclusion
In the past few quizzes, we have been discussing the above patterns in Weaken the Conclusion questions and solving related questions.
Let us see how skilled you are at applying these patterns, to the question below:
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Question:
Economist: Although the price of coffee has greatly increased in nominal terms (i.e., before adjustment for inflation) over the past century, the inflation-adjusted prices of coffee have actually been falling. Since the price of a commodity generally decreases when demand declines relative to supply, it must be the case that the demand for coffee must be currently declining.
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the economist's argument?
(A) The price of coffee even in a geography, is different for each brand of coffee, depending on various factors such as type of beans and production costs.
(B) Over the past century, the prices of some other beverages such as tea have risen dramatically after adjustment for inflation.
(C) The prices of food items, including tea and coffee, predictably increase when demand grows relative to supply.
(D) Over the past decade, the price of coffee has risen after adjustment for inflation.
(E) Over the past century, inflation has made the price of coffee much higher in nominal terms than they would otherwise have been.
GMAT-Club-Forum-9eip0pju.png [ 50.24 KiB | Viewed 368 times ]
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Patterns in Weaken the Conclusion
In the past few quizzes, we have been discussing the above patterns in Weaken the Conclusion questions and solving related questions.
Let us see how skilled you are at applying these patterns, to the question below:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question:
Economist: Although the price of coffee has greatly increased in nominal terms (i.e., before adjustment for inflation) over the past century, the inflation-adjusted prices of coffee have actually been falling. Since the price of a commodity generally decreases when demand declines relative to supply, it must be the case that the demand for coffee must be currently declining.
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the economist's argument?
(A) The price of coffee even in a geography, is different for each brand of coffee, depending on various factors such as type of beans and production costs.
(B) Over the past century, the prices of some other beverages such as tea have risen dramatically after adjustment for inflation.
(C) The prices of food items, including tea and coffee, predictably increase when demand grows relative to supply.
(D) Over the past decade, the price of coffee has risen after adjustment for inflation.
(E) Over the past century, inflation has made the price of coffee much higher in nominal terms than they would otherwise have been.
Attachment:
GMAT-Club-Forum-9eip0pju.png [ 50.24 KiB | Viewed 368 times ]
25 Apr 2025, 21:21
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Solution
The correct answer is .
The argument presents the following information:
(A) This answer choice is interesting. Notice that the argument mentions that a shrinking population that is spiritually inclined is "a symptom" (thereby implying that this is not the only symptom) of the incipient decline of a society. Hence, there can be other symptoms of the incipient decline of a society too. Hence, just because this symptom a (shrinking population that is spiritually inclined) is not occurring in a society, we cannot conclude that the society is not declining. Correct.
(B) This answer choice highlights why it is so important to be mindful of the conclusion: a society that is undergoing periods of tremendous economic growth is not beginning to decline. So, the argument does not need to specifically delve on "what citizens consider spirituality" in a given society because the argument is actually concluding the fact that this symptom of decline is not present, regardless of what citizens may consider spirituality. Incorrect.
(C) This answer choice is a reminder of how crucial it is to keep in mind whether the argument is performing any comparison at all and if so, which entities are being compared in the argument. This answer choice is incorrect because the argument is not concerned about comparing the relative contribution of spiritually inclined vis-a-vis non spiritually inclined towards the collective economic prosperity of the society. Incorrect.
(D) The argument states that people contributing towards the economic prosperity of a society do not find sufficient time for pursuing spirituality. However, this answer choice reverses this, by stating that a society with spiritually inclined people cannot prosper economically. Incorrect.
(E) The argument states that a shrinking population that is spiritually inclined is "a symptom" of the incipient decline of a society. However, the argument does not mention or imply that economic factors are more prominent contributors to the flourishing or decline of a society. Incorrect.
p.s. This is a similar official question, for additional practice.
The correct answer is .
The argument presents the following information:
- A shrinking population that is spiritually inclined is a symptom of the incipient decline of a society
- In a society with periods of tremendous economic growth, almost everyone is contributing towards the economic prosperity, leaving little time for pursuing spirituality
- Conclusion that we have to weaken: A society that is undergoing periods of tremendous economic growth is not beginning to decline.
(A) This answer choice is interesting. Notice that the argument mentions that a shrinking population that is spiritually inclined is "a symptom" (thereby implying that this is not the only symptom) of the incipient decline of a society. Hence, there can be other symptoms of the incipient decline of a society too. Hence, just because this symptom a (shrinking population that is spiritually inclined) is not occurring in a society, we cannot conclude that the society is not declining. Correct.
(B) This answer choice highlights why it is so important to be mindful of the conclusion: a society that is undergoing periods of tremendous economic growth is not beginning to decline. So, the argument does not need to specifically delve on "what citizens consider spirituality" in a given society because the argument is actually concluding the fact that this symptom of decline is not present, regardless of what citizens may consider spirituality. Incorrect.
(C) This answer choice is a reminder of how crucial it is to keep in mind whether the argument is performing any comparison at all and if so, which entities are being compared in the argument. This answer choice is incorrect because the argument is not concerned about comparing the relative contribution of spiritually inclined vis-a-vis non spiritually inclined towards the collective economic prosperity of the society. Incorrect.
(D) The argument states that people contributing towards the economic prosperity of a society do not find sufficient time for pursuing spirituality. However, this answer choice reverses this, by stating that a society with spiritually inclined people cannot prosper economically. Incorrect.
(E) The argument states that a shrinking population that is spiritually inclined is "a symptom" of the incipient decline of a society. However, the argument does not mention or imply that economic factors are more prominent contributors to the flourishing or decline of a society. Incorrect.
p.s. This is a similar official question, for additional practice.
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