Last visit was: 18 Nov 2025, 20:05 It is currently 18 Nov 2025, 20:05
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
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.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
605-655 Level|   Weaken|      
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,355
Own Kudos:
778,087
Given Kudos: 99,964
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,355
Kudos: 778,087
The increase in taxes on cigarettes next month will not limit the use 13 Nov 2025, 00:33
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

45% (medium)

Question Stats:

56% (01:07) correct 44% (01:11) wrong based on 119 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
The increase in taxes on cigarettes next month will not limit the use of addictive tobacco products to the extent that health advocates hope. Many cigarette smokers will shift their spending to cigars and chewing tobacco when the law takes effect.

Which of the following, if true, would most strongly weaken the argument above?

A. Cigars and chewing tobacco can satisfy the nicotine cravings of most cigarette smokers.

B. The taste, smell, and texture of cigars and chewing tobacco are sufficiently different from those of cigarettes to deter cigarette smokers from using them.

C. Many health advocates themselves use tobacco products.

D. The government might also impose significant taxes on cigars and chewing tobacco over the course of two years.

E. Cigars and chewing tobacco are often more expensive than cigarettes.


ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
B
User avatar
OneLazyBum
User avatar
Joined: 06 Nov 2025
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 24
Own Kudos:
3
Given Kudos: 9
Posts: 24
Kudos: 3
The increase in taxes on cigarettes next month will not limit the use 13 Nov 2025, 02:13
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can someone please help
I am confused between option (B) and (E)
User avatar
MansikaVats
User avatar
Joined: 11 Jul 2025
Last visit: 15 Nov 2025
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
6
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 5
Kudos: 6
 [1]
The increase in taxes on cigarettes next month will not limit the use 13 Nov 2025, 05:29
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Well I think its option B because it gives us more clear reason and explanation about how the smell and taste of chewing tobacco and cigars will deter smokers from using them . Hence the claim that they will likely move to consuming these products might fall .

You are free to correct me if i am wrong .
User avatar
PeanutButter429
User avatar
Joined: 18 Feb 2025
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 17
Own Kudos:
7
Given Kudos: 10
Posts: 17
Kudos: 7
The increase in taxes on cigarettes next month will not limit the use 13 Nov 2025, 09:27
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
OneLazyBum
Can someone please help
I am confused between option (B) and (E)
Show more
For me (E) is less certain because we don't know by how much are they more expensive, so we cannot compare their current price with the price of cigs + tax. Plus the word often is quite vague
User avatar
Dereno
User avatar
Joined: 22 May 2020
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 744
Own Kudos:
733
 [1]
Given Kudos: 373
Products:
GMAT Club Tests
Posts: 744
Kudos: 733
 [1]
The increase in taxes on cigarettes next month will not limit the use 13 Nov 2025, 11:29
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
The increase in taxes on cigarettes next month will not limit the use of addictive tobacco products to the extent that health advocates hope. Many cigarette smokers will shift their spending to cigars and chewing tobacco when the law takes effect.

Which of the following, if true, would most strongly weaken the argument above?

A. Cigars and chewing tobacco can satisfy the nicotine cravings of most cigarette smokers.

B. The taste, smell, and texture of cigars and chewing tobacco are sufficiently different from those of cigarettes to deter cigarette smokers from using them.

C. Many health advocates themselves use tobacco products.

D. The government might also impose significant taxes on cigars and chewing tobacco over the course of two years.

E. Cigars and chewing tobacco are often more expensive than cigarettes.


Show more
The taxes on cigarettes are going to increase from next month, this will eventually lead to increase in price of cigarettes compared to previous month. The health advocates claim that this increase in taxes, might help reduce the consumption of addictive tobacco products. But, this won’t be the case.

As many cigarettes consumers will shift to alternative tobacco products like - chewing tobacco and smoking cigars.

We need to find a strong weakener, this means there exists a weak weakener amongst the options.

A. Cigars and chewing tobacco can satisfy the nicotine cravings of most cigarette smokers.

If the alternative variants of tobacco satisfies the nicotine cravings of most cigarettes smokers, they might shift to these alternatives. This might strengthen the health advocates claim. Hence, wrong.

B. The taste, smell, and texture of cigars and chewing tobacco are sufficiently different from those of cigarettes to deter cigarette smokers from using them.

If the taste, smell and texture are different from cigarettes, these features might hamper the use of these alternative products and incline more towards smoking cigarettes. It’s not the price rise, but these features which have resulted in either the status quo or increase. This is a weakener, but let’s look for other choices as well.

C. Many health advocates themselves use tobacco products.

There can be overlapping between persons using tobacco products and health advocates. As, profession and personal choice is different. The former is not discussed here. Hence, wrong.

D. The government might also impose significant taxes on cigars and chewing tobacco over the course of two years.

The question speaks about the impact of taxes from next month, while the option speaks about the future proposal which might take place over the course of two years. Another aspect, is the new taxation mentioned in the option might take place or may not. Hence, wrong.

E. Cigars and chewing tobacco are often more expensive than cigarettes.

This option mentions that the price tag on tobacco alternatives are higher when compared to the cigarettes cost. If suppose even after the taxation being increased, the price of cigarettes might land short than the cigar and chewing tobacco. OR There can be a case where, the taxation might have lead to exorbitant increase in price of cigarettes. This would lead the consumer to opt for lower price points - we have different choices for each case. Hence, this weakens the argument more lightly than option B.

Hence, option B
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7445 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
234 posts
miag
188 posts