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17 Aug 2015, 11:18
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Pilates is a physical activity that focuses on strengthening the body’s core. A study was conducted with certain members of a Pilates studio. Researchers selected 100 people and instructed them to do Pilates for 30 minutes each day over the course of a month. The group was selected to include people with similar diets, and all the study participants adhered to the instructions. At the end of the study, it was found that the group lost an average of 2.6 pounds. The researchers concluded that Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment.
Which of the following is an assumption made by the researchers in drawing their conclusion?
A. The group of 100 people followed a low calorie diet
B. Pilates is an activity that burns calories
C. Some of the study participants enjoyed doing Pilates more than others
D. If the group of 100 people did no physical activity at all, they would not have lost weight
E. Some of the study participants would have done 30 minutes of Pilates each day even if they were not part of the study
Which of the following is an assumption made by the researchers in drawing their conclusion?
A. The group of 100 people followed a low calorie diet
B. Pilates is an activity that burns calories
C. Some of the study participants enjoyed doing Pilates more than others
D. If the group of 100 people did no physical activity at all, they would not have lost weight
E. Some of the study participants would have done 30 minutes of Pilates each day even if they were not part of the study
17 Aug 2015, 11:18
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Official Solution:
Pilates is a physical activity that focuses on strengthening the body’s core. A study was conducted with certain members of a Pilates studio. Researchers selected 100 people and instructed them to do Pilates for 30 minutes each day over the course of a month. The group was selected to include people with similar diets, and all the study participants adhered to the instructions. At the end of the study, it was found that the group lost an average of 2.6 pounds. The researchers concluded that Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment.
Which of the following is an assumption made by the researchers in drawing their conclusion?
A. The group of 100 people followed a low calorie diet
B. Pilates is an activity that burns calories
C. Some of the study participants enjoyed doing Pilates more than others
D. If the group of 100 people did no physical activity at all, they would not have lost weight
E. Some of the study participants would have done 30 minutes of Pilates each day even if they were not part of the study
General Approach
In Critical Reasoning questions on the GMAT, specifically those that deal with assumptions, the challenge is to identify what unspoken supposition lies underneath the argument or conclusion made by the researchers or the author. The assumption is something that must be true for the argument to hold, even though it's not explicitly stated. In assumption questions, it is often helpful to identify the claim or conclusion (in this case, that Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment) and then to look at the evidence provided (in this case, the study participants lost an average of 2.6 pounds). The assumption will bridge any logical gaps between the evidence and the claim.
Correct Answer
D) If the group of 100 people did no physical activity at all, they would not have lost weight. This is essentially the hidden assumption that the researchers made when concluding that Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment. They must presuppose that without Pilates, no weight loss would have occurred, thus attributing the average weight loss of 2.6 pounds solely to the Pilates exercises. Otherwise, if the participants could have lost weight through other means (not doing any physical activity at all), the results would not necessarily support the researchers' conclusion that Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment.
Incorrect Answers
A) The group of 100 people followed a low calorie diet. This answer choice is incorrect because it contradicts the information provided, which states that the group was selected to include people with similar diets. The assumption that they followed a low-calorie diet would undermine the conclusion by providing another reason for the weight loss.
B) Pilates is an activity that burns calories. This may indeed be true, but it is not an underlying assumption. The researchers didn’t conclude that Pilates is more effective than other exercises, they only concluded that Pilates is effective for weight loss.
C) Some of the study participants enjoyed doing Pilates more than others. This is irrelevant to the argument. The level of enjoyment the participants got from Pilates has no bearing on whether or not Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment.
E) Some of the study participants would have done 30 minutes of Pilates each day even if they were not part of the study. This is also irrelevant. Whether or not they would have done Pilates regardless of the study does not impact the conclusion that Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment.
Answer: D
Pilates is a physical activity that focuses on strengthening the body’s core. A study was conducted with certain members of a Pilates studio. Researchers selected 100 people and instructed them to do Pilates for 30 minutes each day over the course of a month. The group was selected to include people with similar diets, and all the study participants adhered to the instructions. At the end of the study, it was found that the group lost an average of 2.6 pounds. The researchers concluded that Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment.
Which of the following is an assumption made by the researchers in drawing their conclusion?
A. The group of 100 people followed a low calorie diet
B. Pilates is an activity that burns calories
C. Some of the study participants enjoyed doing Pilates more than others
D. If the group of 100 people did no physical activity at all, they would not have lost weight
E. Some of the study participants would have done 30 minutes of Pilates each day even if they were not part of the study
General Approach
In Critical Reasoning questions on the GMAT, specifically those that deal with assumptions, the challenge is to identify what unspoken supposition lies underneath the argument or conclusion made by the researchers or the author. The assumption is something that must be true for the argument to hold, even though it's not explicitly stated. In assumption questions, it is often helpful to identify the claim or conclusion (in this case, that Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment) and then to look at the evidence provided (in this case, the study participants lost an average of 2.6 pounds). The assumption will bridge any logical gaps between the evidence and the claim.
Correct Answer
D) If the group of 100 people did no physical activity at all, they would not have lost weight. This is essentially the hidden assumption that the researchers made when concluding that Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment. They must presuppose that without Pilates, no weight loss would have occurred, thus attributing the average weight loss of 2.6 pounds solely to the Pilates exercises. Otherwise, if the participants could have lost weight through other means (not doing any physical activity at all), the results would not necessarily support the researchers' conclusion that Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment.
Incorrect Answers
A) The group of 100 people followed a low calorie diet. This answer choice is incorrect because it contradicts the information provided, which states that the group was selected to include people with similar diets. The assumption that they followed a low-calorie diet would undermine the conclusion by providing another reason for the weight loss.
B) Pilates is an activity that burns calories. This may indeed be true, but it is not an underlying assumption. The researchers didn’t conclude that Pilates is more effective than other exercises, they only concluded that Pilates is effective for weight loss.
C) Some of the study participants enjoyed doing Pilates more than others. This is irrelevant to the argument. The level of enjoyment the participants got from Pilates has no bearing on whether or not Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment.
E) Some of the study participants would have done 30 minutes of Pilates each day even if they were not part of the study. This is also irrelevant. Whether or not they would have done Pilates regardless of the study does not impact the conclusion that Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment.
Answer: D
02 Oct 2015, 00:33
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Pilates is a physical activity that focuses on strengthening the body’s core.
A study was conducted with certain members of a Pilates studio with selected 100 people and instructed them to do Pilates for 30 minutes each day over the course of a month.
The group was selected to include people with similar diets, and all the study participants adhered to the instructions.
At the end of the study, it was found that the group lost an average of 2.6 pounds. The researchers concluded that Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment.
Which of the following is an assumption made by the researchers in drawing their conclusion?
A. The group of 100 people followed a low calorie diet
(weakens the conclusion)
B. Pilates is an activity that burns calories
(can be true kept it aside)
C. Some of the study participants enjoyed doing Pilates more than others
(Enjoyment is not important here and this option defines some of them.)
D. If the group of 100 people did no physical activity at all, they would not have lost weight
(can be true as well)
E. Some of the study participants would have done 30 minutes of Pilates each day even if they were not part of the study
(People who are not part of study are not of concern here. Even if it is do this statement defines only few.)
I got confused between options B and D.
If we apply negation test for both options
B. Pilates is an activity that burns calories
negated: Pilates is not an activity that burns calories
then Pilates cannot result in loss of an average of 2.6 pounds. The researchers conclusion that Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment falls apart.
same is the case with D as well.
Can someone explain why B is wrong
A study was conducted with certain members of a Pilates studio with selected 100 people and instructed them to do Pilates for 30 minutes each day over the course of a month.
The group was selected to include people with similar diets, and all the study participants adhered to the instructions.
At the end of the study, it was found that the group lost an average of 2.6 pounds. The researchers concluded that Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment.
Which of the following is an assumption made by the researchers in drawing their conclusion?
A. The group of 100 people followed a low calorie diet
(weakens the conclusion)
B. Pilates is an activity that burns calories
(can be true kept it aside)
C. Some of the study participants enjoyed doing Pilates more than others
(Enjoyment is not important here and this option defines some of them.)
D. If the group of 100 people did no physical activity at all, they would not have lost weight
(can be true as well)
E. Some of the study participants would have done 30 minutes of Pilates each day even if they were not part of the study
(People who are not part of study are not of concern here. Even if it is do this statement defines only few.)
I got confused between options B and D.
If we apply negation test for both options
B. Pilates is an activity that burns calories
negated: Pilates is not an activity that burns calories
then Pilates cannot result in loss of an average of 2.6 pounds. The researchers conclusion that Pilates is an effective weight loss treatment falls apart.
same is the case with D as well.
Quote:
Can someone explain why B is wrong
