Last visit was: 20 May 2026, 08:02 It is currently 20 May 2026, 08:02
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
gotitright
Joined: 11 Jun 2025
Last visit: 20 May 2026
Posts: 30
Own Kudos:
21
 [10]
Given Kudos: 23
Posts: 30
Kudos: 21
 [10]
Kudos
Add Kudos
10
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Sajjad1994
User avatar
GRE Forum Moderator
Joined: 02 Nov 2016
Last visit: 20 May 2026
Posts: 16,715
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 6,355
GPA: 3.62
Products:
Posts: 16,715
Kudos: 52,224
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
gotitright
Joined: 11 Jun 2025
Last visit: 20 May 2026
Posts: 30
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 23
Posts: 30
Kudos: 21
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
SomethingSomw
Joined: 05 Jan 2026
Last visit: 20 May 2026
Posts: 16
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 160
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q85 V88 DI84
Products:
GMAT Focus 1: 715 Q85 V88 DI84
Posts: 16
Kudos: 2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Sajjad1994

The argument mentions that the odds are slim that such colonization will ever happen.
Option D says that the hypothesis is False. Is this not too harsh of a statement? Slim odds and false doesnt seem to fit together. Which is why i rejected this option
User avatar
guddo
Joined: 25 May 2021
Last visit: 20 May 2026
Posts: 1,201
Own Kudos:
11,929
 [1]
Given Kudos: 32
Posts: 1,201
Kudos: 11,929
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Scientist: Given the human tendency to explore and colonize new areas, some people believe that the galaxy will eventually be colonized by trillions of humans. If so, the vast majority of humans ever to live would be alive during this period of colonization. Since all of us are humans and we have no reason to think we are unrepresentative, the odds are overwhelming that we would be alive during this period, too. But, because we are not alive during this period, the odds are slim that such colonization will ever happen.

The scientist's argument proceeds by

The argument says: if galaxy-wide colonization were going to happen, then most humans would live during that future period. Since we should treat ourselves as a typical human sample, we would then probably be living in that period. But we are not. So the hypothesis is probably false. That is exactly the pattern in choice D.

(A) reasoning that because an event has not occurred, that event has a low probability of occurring

This is too vague and inaccurate. The argument is not merely saying “it has not happened yet, so it probably will not happen.” It is using a conditional probability idea tied to a hypothesis.

(B) drawing a conclusion that implicitly contradicts one of the premises that the argument accepts

No. The conclusion does not contradict any accepted premise.

(C) taking for granted that dependable predictions about the future cannot ever be made simply on the basis of the present facts

No. The argument is actually making a prediction-like judgment.

(D) inferring that since an event that is taken to be likely on a given hypothesis has not occurred, the hypothesis is probably false

This is correct. If the colonization hypothesis were true, our being alive during that era would be likely; since we are not, the hypothesis is taken to be unlikely.

(E) making a prediction far into the future based on established human tendencies

Too broad. That describes part of the setup, not the actual reasoning method.

Answer: (D)
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7394 posts
587 posts
368 posts