Last visit was: 21 Apr 2026, 12:06 It is currently 21 Apr 2026, 12:06
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
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
555-605 (Medium)|   Weaken|      
User avatar
paidlukkha
User avatar
Joined: 11 Nov 2014
Last visit: 21 Apr 2017
Posts: 248
Own Kudos:
371
 [4]
Given Kudos: 17
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, International Business
Schools: ISB '18 Great Lakes '18 SPJ PGPM"17 LBS '18 NTU '18 NUS '18
WE:Project Management (Telecommunications)
Schools: ISB '18 Great Lakes '18 SPJ PGPM"17 LBS '18 NTU '18 NUS '18
Posts: 248
Kudos: 371
 [4]
Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise 12 Sep 2016, 04:45
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
D
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

25% (medium)

Question Stats:

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

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
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.
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
D
avatar
abhishek2804
avatar
Joined: 14 Apr 2014
Last visit: 04 Oct 2016
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
1
 [1]
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 5
Kudos: 1
 [1]
Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise 12 Sep 2016, 05:34
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
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.

Sent from my ONE A2003 using GMAT Club Forum mobile app
avatar
kritikalal
avatar
Joined: 20 Oct 2017
Last visit: 07 Jul 2021
Posts: 27
Own Kudos:
8
 [2]
Given Kudos: 158
Posts: 27
Kudos: 8
 [2]
Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise 14 Dec 2017, 11:10
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Why not E? I am confused between D and E. I picked E.
User avatar
hovhannesmkrtchyan
User avatar
Joined: 10 Oct 2017
Last visit: 23 Jan 2022
Posts: 16
Own Kudos:
10
 [2]
Given Kudos: 166
GMAT 1: 680 Q47 V35
GPA: 3.19
Products:
My Reviews
GMAT 1: 680 Q47 V35
Posts: 16
Kudos: 10
 [2]
Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise 24 Jan 2018, 13:52
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
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.
avatar
HG0815
avatar
Joined: 13 Nov 2017
Last visit: 19 Feb 2018
Posts: 41
Own Kudos:
40
Given Kudos: 7
Posts: 41
Kudos: 40
Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise 24 Jan 2018, 16:07
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
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.
Show more

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.
avatar
JAIN09
avatar
Joined: 18 Feb 2017
Last visit: 20 Jan 2019
Posts: 39
Own Kudos:
8
Given Kudos: 509
Location: India
Schools: ISB '20 IIMA PGPX"20 IIMC PGPEX"20
GMAT 1: 650 Q45 V30
GPA: 3.35
Schools: ISB '20 IIMA PGPX"20 IIMC PGPEX"20
GMAT 1: 650 Q45 V30
Posts: 39
Kudos: 8
Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise 21 Mar 2018, 05:27
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
GMATNinja
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
User avatar
abhimahna
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 18 Jul 2015
Last visit: 06 Jul 2024
Posts: 3,481
Own Kudos:
5,779
 [1]
Given Kudos: 346
Status:Emory Goizueta Alum
Products:
My Reviews
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,481
Kudos: 5,779
 [1]
Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise 21 Mar 2018, 05:43
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
JAIN09
GMATNinja
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
Show more

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?
User avatar
VerbalBot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 01 Oct 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 19,404
Own Kudos:
1,009
Posts: 19,404
Kudos: 1,009
Shopkeeper: Every year, for the past five years, we have had to raise 13 Jan 2025, 11:26
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7391 posts
AbhishekP220108
495 posts
bhanu29
358 posts