Premise #1: Funding is less in geology research.

Step conclusion (or Premise #2): Fewer students are making career in geology research.

Main Conclusion: The number of postgraduate students enrolling in geology courses will decline.

Key objects: number of postgraduate students that enroll in geology courses, less funding, and fewer students that go on geology research career.

A), This is irrelevant. This talks about the number of undergraduate students. However, the connection among the number of undergraduate students and the key objects is too casual. The question doesn't explicitly or implicitly express how the number of undergraduate students will kick in this argument.

B), This is a tempting option. The logic behind this option may get you to the right answer in some questions. I am keeping it for now. Basically if the connection between research funding and number of students, in general, is casual - not absolute, then the current argument could be undermined. But this option goes extra miles to achieve the weakening. I am not sure at this point.

C), This is better than B. Remember the argument's logic - because fewer students are going to pick careers in geology research, the number of postgraduate students who choose geology courses will decrease. There is a difference between careers in geology research and geology courses in general. Geology courses may include courses in geology research but geology research doesn't represent geology courses as a whole. This option clearly points out that most of the postgraduate students still need geology courses even though they are not going on geology research career path.

D), Same as A, the object here - teacher staffing, is irrelevant to the argument.

E), The comparison of budget size between science department and arts department is irrelevant. How will these two big departments' budgets impact geology group?

Answer should be C.


Feel free to discuss.

Question Type: Weaken

Argument: N(PG students) in geology courses will decline because of the cutbacks in the budget for research in geology.

A The number of students majoring in geology at the undergraduate level has been increasing steadily over the years, a trend that is expected to continue. - The trend may or may not continue. At the same time this trend will not be applicable to post graduate studies in geology.

B The number of students studying philosophy declined even before cutbacks in research funding were announced. - Irrelevant

C Most postgraduate students of geology move to careers in geoinformatics and geological information systems. - Correct.

D Stafford College has recently increased the number of teaching staff in their geology department. - Out of focus. Focus is on budget cutbacks hurting postgraduate enrollment in geology.

E The budget cutbacks are less severe for the science departments than for the arts departments at Stafford College. - Irrelevant

Answer: C

Option A is a better choice since argument is about "students enrolling for postgraduation in geology course " . Option C is about students who have already done postgraduation. It's unrelated !

Please clarify.

The headmaster of Stafford College claimed that, as a result of continued cutbacks in the budget for research in geology, fewer students are choosing careers in geological research, and therefore the number of postgraduate students enrolling in geology courses is likely to decline.

Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt on the headmaster’s conclusion?

A The number of students majoring in geology at the undergraduate level has been increasing steadily over the years, a trend that is expected to continue. --under graduates are not related to the argument --
B The number of students studying philosophy declined even before cutbacks in research funding were announced.-- philosophy is OFS--
C Most postgraduate students of geology move to careers in geoinformatics and geological information systems.-- Answer--
D Stafford College has recently increased the number of teaching staff in their geology department.-- increase in teaching staff is irrelevant to the argument--
E The budget cutbacks are less severe for the science departments than for the arts departments at Stafford College.-- comparsion of cut backs between 2 departments is irrelevant--

+1 if this helps
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