Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 04:14 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 04:14
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
CrackVerbal
User avatar
CrackVerbal Representative
Joined: 22 Apr 2019
Last visit: 15 Dec 2020
Posts: 100
Own Kudos:
344
 [12]
Given Kudos: 27
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 100
Kudos: 344
 [12]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
9
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Rashed12
Joined: 26 Nov 2018
Last visit: 23 May 2022
Posts: 189
Own Kudos:
371
 [2]
Given Kudos: 123
GPA: 3.3
Products:
Posts: 189
Kudos: 371
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
PRIYANSHU1111
Joined: 30 Jan 2020
Last visit: 28 Jun 2020
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 61
Posts: 18
Kudos: 2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
GptShubham
avatar
Current Student
Joined: 13 May 2018
Last visit: 17 Feb 2022
Posts: 17
Own Kudos:
24
 [2]
Given Kudos: 50
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V31
GMAT 2: 700 Q45 V40
GPA: 4
WE:Engineering (Energy)
GMAT 2: 700 Q45 V40
Posts: 17
Kudos: 24
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Rashed12
BenCrackVerbal
Scientists have modified salmon embryos genetically to increasing the embryo‖s hardiness and longevity when it grows into an adult salmon. Fish harvesters, those who grow and sell fish domestically, who tried out the genetically modified salmon embryos last year used and therefore spent less on vaccinations and medication for the fish and still got a yield (healthy fish meat that can be processed and sold as canned food) comparable to that they had got with ordinary salmon. Ordinary embryos, however, cost less, and what these fish harvesters saved on vaccines and medication was exceeded by the extra costs of the genetically engineered embryos. Therefore, for most fish harvesters, switching to genetically modified salmon embryos would be unlikely to increase profits.

The answer to which of the questions would help evaluate the conclusion that the profits are unlikely to increase.


    (A) Whether there are diseases that sometimes reduce fish yield, but against which commonly used medicines, vaccination, and genetic modification are equally ineffective
    (B) Whether the price that fish harvesters receive for fish yield for salmon has remained steady over the past few years
    (C) Whether the vaccinations and medication typically used on fish tend to be more expensive than those typically used on other fish types
    (D) Whether most of the fish harvesters who tried the genetically modified salmon embryos last year used more vaccination and medication than was actually necessary
    (E) Whether it is the most profitable fish species for most fish harvesters who grow salmon

Need Explanation for the answer option D

Let me give my 2 cents.

If we focus on this portion of the argument "who tried out the genetically modified salmon embryos last year used and therefore spent less on vaccinations and medication for the fish", It is stated that the fishermen invested less on vaccination but nowhere it is mentioned that the amount spent on vaccination was actually necessary. What if fishermen did not know how much quantity of vaccine is needed and used more than what is required. Then there is a possibility that their overall expenditure was higher because of extra investment for the vaccination. Knowing the answer to option D will help us clarify this doubt and hence we would be able to determine whether the cost is actually high for new salmons or not and determine whether fishermen would make a profit selling the new salmon or not?

Hope this helps.
avatar
fireagablast
Joined: 30 Jun 2019
Last visit: 17 Aug 2021
Posts: 263
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 8
Posts: 263
Kudos: 123
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I was between B and D. Really not a fan of the solution explanation
The problem already says that they spent less on medication. There two things here
1. If they spent less on medication, we can assume they are capable of identifying fish that require medication
2. If they are experienced salmon farmers (which is safe to assume), we can also assume they are experts in raising salmon and treating them with medication.

B suggests that the price has changed, and since they bought the fish year 1, and sold the fish year 2, it's fully possible that market fluctuation is the culprit for the profit loss, and not poor farming execution by the farmers.
User avatar
aparajitarai
Joined: 12 Feb 2019
Last visit: 14 Nov 2025
Posts: 2
Given Kudos: 17
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Why is A wrong? Can someone please explain?
User avatar
A_Nishith
Joined: 29 Aug 2023
Last visit: 12 Nov 2025
Posts: 455
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 16
Posts: 455
Kudos: 199
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
To evaluate the conclusion that switching to genetically modified salmon embryos would be unlikely to increase profits, we need to consider factors that could affect the balance between savings on vaccination/medication and the increased costs of the genetically modified embryos.

Let's assess the answer choices:

(A) Whether there are diseases that sometimes reduce fish yield, but against which commonly used medicines, vaccination, and genetic modification are equally ineffective
--> This option asks whether there are diseases that sometimes reduce fish yield but are unaffected by either medication, vaccination, or genetic modification. This would help determine if there are situations where the genetically modified embryos don’t provide any advantage in preventing disease, impacting the overall savings on healthcare. If the genetically modified embryos are not helpful against certain diseases, then the additional cost may be even less justified. This is relevant to understanding the profitability.

(B) Whether the price that fish harvesters receive for fish yield for salmon has remained steady over the past few years -->This option addresses whether the price that fish harvesters receive for salmon has remained steady over the past few years. This information is less directly relevant because the argument focuses on the comparison between the costs and savings of using genetically modified embryos, not on the selling price of salmon. This doesn’t help evaluate the conclusion about profitability.

(C) Whether the vaccinations and medication typically used on fish tend to be more expensive than those typically used on other fish types
-->This option considers whether the vaccinations and medications used for salmon are more expensive than those for other types of fish. The costs of vaccines for other types of fish are irrelevant because the focus is on the savings for salmon. This doesn’t help evaluate the conclusion.

(D) Whether most of the fish harvesters who tried the genetically modified salmon embryos last year used more vaccination and medication than was actually necessary
-->This option asks whether the fish harvesters who tried the genetically modified embryos used more vaccination and medication than was necessary. If they overused vaccines and medication, the true savings from the genetically modified embryos might be underestimated, which would impact the calculation of profitability. This is relevant to evaluating the conclusion.

(E) Whether it is the most profitable fish species for most fish harvesters who grow salmon
-->This option asks whether salmon is the most profitable species for fish harvesters. While the profitability of salmon in general is interesting, the argument is about the comparison between genetically modified and ordinary embryos, not the profitability of salmon as a species. This doesn’t help evaluate the conclusion.

Answer: (D) is the best choice because it directly addresses whether the true savings on vaccines and medications were accurately calculated, which is crucial for determining if switching to genetically modified embryos is likely to increase profits.
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7445 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
234 posts
188 posts