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555-605 (Medium)|   Weaken|      
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paidlukkha
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Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise 12 Sep 2016, 04:45
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25% (medium)

Question Stats:

77% (01:34) correct 23% (01:54) wrong based on 319 sessions

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Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise the price of our merchandise just to stay in business; this is because our electricity and heating costs have risen continually due to annual increases in the price of heating oil in the neighboring country of Navinia, from which we import all our oils. Unless we decide to import our oil from another country or reduce our dependence on heating oil, we should expect to increase our prices again next year.

Which of the following most seriously weakens the argument above?

A. Navinia's oil prices are expected to rise next year, but not to the degree that they have in the past.
B. Oil is less expensive for residents of Navinia than for those living in neighboring countries.
C. Heating oil, unlike other oils, is necessary for the profitable operation of all shops.
D. Navinia will not increase the price of heating oil that is intended for export next year.
E. At least one country other than Navinia offers to sell heating oil at significantly lower prices.
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D
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abhishek2804
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Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise 12 Sep 2016, 05:34
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Looks D. The argument is based on the premise that there has been an annual increase in heating oil price in Navinia. D weakens the claim by suggesting that Navinia will not increase the price of oil that is meant for export. If that's the case, there won't be a need to increase merchandise price this year.

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Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise 14 Dec 2017, 11:10
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Why not E? I am confused between D and E. I picked E.
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Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise 24 Jan 2018, 13:52
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Can someone explain me why option E is not correct ? I agree that option D does weaken the argument, but option E also weakens the argument by indicating that there is another country that offers low prices of heating oil. Low prices of heating oil should make their costs less. Thus lower merchandise costs. Please someone help im confused.
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Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise 24 Jan 2018, 16:07
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hovhannesmkrtchyan
Can someone explain me why option E is not correct ? I agree that option D does weaken the argument, but option E also weakens the argument by indicating that there is another country that offers low prices of heating oil. Low prices of heating oil should make their costs less. Thus lower merchandise costs. Please someone help im confused.
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To hovhannesmkrtchyan,
Here is my thinking about E.

I think E is nothing.
The target of weaken is make conclusion wrong.
Conclusion is 'We should expect to increase our price again'
'Unless we decide to import our oil from another country or reduce our dependence on heating ool'
is not conclusion, but some conditions, which do not need to must be true.
So D is better.
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Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise 21 Mar 2018, 05:27
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GMATNinja
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hello expert
can you please explain why option E is not correct
my understanding:At least one country other than Navinia offers to sell heating oil at significantly lower prices

as there exist more than one country that offers oil at a lower price,so oil price will not increase an thus the merchandise prices
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Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise 21 Mar 2018, 05:43
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JAIN09
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MagooshExpert

hello expert
can you please explain why option E is not correct
my understanding:At least one country other than Navinia offers to sell heating oil at significantly lower prices

as there exist more than one country that offers oil at a lower price,so oil price will not increase an thus the merchandise prices
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Hey JAIN09 ,

Looks like you have not understood the argument properly.

Author's conclusion is we should expect to increase our prices again next year unless we get oil from someone else or we reduce our dependency.

That means author himself is saying "Hey, I got a country selling me cheaper product, I won't increase the prices" or "Hey, we reduced our dependency, I won't increase the prices". But if none of these happens, I will increase the prices.

Option E is actually saying "We have another country to get the cheaper oil." So, this is no way breaking what author said. This option is actually inline with what Author mentioned. Hence, not a weakener.

Check out my this post where I have explained Unless P, then Q rules. :)

Does that make sense?
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Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise 13 Jan 2025, 11:26
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