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705-805 (Hard)|   Weaken|      
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Sajjad1994
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It has been over 30 years since a manned mission to the moon. 01 Mar 2017, 07:38
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44% (01:50) correct 56% (01:54) wrong based on 519 sessions

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It has been over 30 years since a manned mission to the moon. But now, scientists are planning to place a research station on the south pole of the moon to gather data on the moon’s seismic activity and weather patterns. The research station will be completed and launched in two years, so humans will once again walk on the moon.

Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?

A. The information gathered by the lunar research station could also be acquired by placing a satellite into orbit over the moon.

B. The lunar research instruments are part of a module that will be launched into space and parachute onto the moon’s surface.

C. Advances in technology have reduced the chances of a space flight disaster to half of the levels they were 30 years ago.

D. The instruments on the lunar research station are so complex that a human technician is required to fix them if they malfunction.

E. Although the research station will use solar power, researchers expect that the instruments will operate for no more than five years.


Source: Mcgraw Hill GMAT
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B
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It has been over 30 years since a manned mission to the moon. 01 Mar 2017, 23:21
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Conclusion :- Man will walk the moon on the given mission

Premises :- Last lunar manned mission 30 years ago; Scientists plan to place research satellite on South Pole of moon to gather data


Options C, D,E can be negated at first look since they do not concern the argument raised

Option A talks about gathering data by placing satellite in the moon's orbit, which is not the question at hand since the argument concludes that man will have to walk on moon's surface of the conditions mentioned in premise have to be fulfilled

Option B mentions an alternate reasoning/way which will not require man walking on moon but satisfies condition of the premises.
Hence, B is a decent option

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It has been over 30 years since a manned mission to the moon. 02 Mar 2017, 03:37
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SajjadAhmad
Source: Mcgraw Hill GMAT

It has been over 30 years since a manned mission to the moon. But now, scientists are planning to place a research station on the south pole of the moon to gather data on the moon’s seismic activity and weather patterns. The research station will be completed and launched in two years, so humans will once again walk on the moon.

Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?

A. The information gathered by the lunar research station could also be acquired by placing a satellite into orbit over the moon.
B. The lunar research instruments are part of a module that will be launched into space and parachute onto the moon’s surface.
C. Advances in technology have reduced the chances of a space flight disaster to half of the levels they were 30 years ago.
D. The instruments on the lunar research station are so complex that a human technician is required to fix them if they malfunction.
E. Although the research station will use solar power, researchers expect that the instruments will operate for no more than five years.
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Conclusion : humans will once again walk on the moon.

Assumption : Humans will be required to gather data or operate machines that gather data walking on the moon in the process.
In order to weaken we need to prove that humans wont be required to operate or gather data .
Only option B states that. hence correct.
option A is a trap. we are concerned with what happens when there is a space station not when there is not!
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It has been over 30 years since a manned mission to the moon. 26 Jan 2020, 17:09
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I still cannot reject A.

It seems fine to me.

I don't get how option B removes the human aspect out of the equation.

Please help!
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It has been over 30 years since a manned mission to the moon. 26 Jan 2020, 17:33
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option A is correct. If true it completely negates the need for man for walk the moon and weakens the argument

Option B, E - DO NOT clearly negate the need of humans for the need of on moon

Option C and D:- strengthen the argument that man can safely walk moons surface again or that humans are required for the mission

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It has been over 30 years since a manned mission to the moon. 27 Jan 2020, 09:49
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Official Explanation

This is a weaken question. The conclusion and the premises are:

Premises: Scientists are planning to place a research station on the south pole of the moon to gather data on the moon’s seismic activity and weather patterns; the research station will be completed and launched in two years.

Conclusion: Humans will once again walk on the moon.

This argument assumes that placing a research station on the moon’s south pole will require a person to walk on the moon. So you should find an answer that attacks this assumption.

Choice B indicates that the research station can be launched to the moon and parachute down, so it doesn’t need a person to land on the moon in order to set it up.

Choice A is not relevant because it doesn’t address the connection between the research station and walking on the moon.

If anything, choices C and D make it more likely that humans will walk on the moon, not less likely.

Choice E is not relevant to the argument.

Answer: B.
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It has been over 30 years since a manned mission to the moon. 27 Jan 2020, 16:23
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SajjadAhmad
Official Explanation

This is a weaken question. The conclusion and the premises are:

Premises: Scientists are planning to place a research station on the south pole of the moon to gather data on the moon’s seismic activity and weather patterns; the research station will be completed and launched in two years.

Conclusion: Humans will once again walk on the moon.

This argument assumes that placing a research station on the moon’s south pole will require a person to walk on the moon. So you should find an answer that attacks this assumption.

Choice B indicates that the research station can be launched to the moon and parachute down, so it doesn’t need a person to land on the moon in order to set it up.

Choice A is not relevant because it doesn’t address the connection between the research station and walking on the moon.

If anything, choices C and D make it more likely that humans will walk on the moon, not less likely.

Choice E is not relevant to the argument.

Answer: B.
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Still not sure how this isn't or can't also be option A.
Option A contradicts the argument for a research station outright. There isn't a need for a research station and there isn't a need for people to walk on the moon.
Option B says instruments will be parachuted to the moon, but what does that have anything to do with the assembly of the station or it's operation?

Official answer says that B indicates the research station can be launched to the moon, but option B doesn't say that..it only says research instruments.
Official answer says A isn't relevant to the connection between the station and walking on the moon, even though it fully contradicts the need for a station on walking on the moon.
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It has been over 30 years since a manned mission to the moon. 09 Jul 2026, 07:56
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I mean I see what the argument wants to say, but I was also thinking maybe they mean it like they actually parachute it over there anyway, and once moon becomes more habitable, the humans will walk again on the moon. There is no clear mention that humans will actually be required in order to achieve that task in particular. It seems like a very very soft assumption from what is being stated in the stem.
Sajjad1994
It has been over 30 years since a manned mission to the moon. But now, scientists are planning to place a research station on the south pole of the moon to gather data on the moon’s seismic activity and weather patterns. The research station will be completed and launched in two years, so humans will once again walk on the moon.

Which of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?

A. The information gathered by the lunar research station could also be acquired by placing a satellite into orbit over the moon.

B. The lunar research instruments are part of a module that will be launched into space and parachute onto the moon’s surface.

C. Advances in technology have reduced the chances of a space flight disaster to half of the levels they were 30 years ago.

D. The instruments on the lunar research station are so complex that a human technician is required to fix them if they malfunction.

E. Although the research station will use solar power, researchers expect that the instruments will operate for no more than five years.


Source: Mcgraw Hill GMAT
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It has been over 30 years since a manned mission to the moon. 10 Jul 2026, 04:56
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Hi Adit_,

You've actually spotted something real: the assumption is soft. But that softness is exactly what makes B a valid weakener, so let me reframe what the argument is actually claiming.

Look at the wording: "The research station will be completed and launched in two years, so humans will once again walk on the moon." That little "so" tells you the only reason the author gives for humans walking on the moon is this station launch. The argument isn't claiming humans will eventually visit for any reason ever - it's claiming they'll walk on the moon because this station has to be set up there.

So the link we're testing is narrow: station launch -therefore humans must go. B cuts that link cleanly: if the module is launched into space and parachutes onto the surface, then setting up the station needs no one to walk there. The author's single stated reason evaporates.

Where your "later, for other reasons" idea goes

Your thought - maybe the moon gets habitable and humans walk there someday anyway - is an outside scenario the stimulus never gives you. In CR you judge only the support the argument actually offers, and it offers exactly one thing: this launch. A weakener doesn't have to prove humans will never set foot on the moon; it just has to knock out the stated reasoning. B does that, so the argument's conclusion no longer follows.

Feel it with one turn of a word

- Original: "We're shipping a vending machine to the office, so someone will drive there to install it." Weakener: the machine self-installs. Reason gone.
- Now the version you're imagining: "...and anyway, people might visit that office someday for lunch." True maybe - but it's not the reason on the table, so it can't rescue the argument.

Stay strict: attack the reason given, not the future you can picture. That's why B wins.

Answer: B

Adit_
I mean I see what the argument wants to say, but I was also thinking maybe they mean it like they actually parachute it over there anyway, and once moon becomes more habitable, the humans will walk again on the moon. There is no clear mention that humans will actually be required in order to achieve that task in particular. It seems like a very very soft assumption from what is being stated in the stem.

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