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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 10:05
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The flaw here is that group A did this and achieved something which is important hence everyone should do it to increase their chances of success. We need a choice that align with that
A. No alignment: Straightforward logical deduction about legal compliance
B. No alignment. This is more of correlation Vs Causation
C. No alignment. Same as above with an addition of mandate
D. Perfect alignment
E. No alignment. This is a simple prerequisite rule based on educational necessity
Ans D
Bunuel
School Board Member: A recent study of high school students in our district found that those who participate in the district's after-school chess program scored significantly higher on the State-mandated Essential Skills in Mathematics (ESM) exam than those who do not. District-wide improvements in average ESM scores are vital to retain public support for the district and to increase the competitiveness of our graduates in the job market. Therefore, the district should mandate participation in the chess program for all high school students.

Which of the following arguments exhibits a flaw similar to the flaw in the reasoning above?

(A) Financial Regulator: Any bank in our country that handles international wire transfers on behalf of their clients must comply with regulations mandating strict data encryption protocols. Meridian National Bank does not currently have the technical ability to encrypt customer data during wire transfers. Therefore, Meridian National Bank cannot legally provide international wire transfers to their customers.

(B) Tech Journalist: Industry surveys indicate that tech startups that secure venture capital funding within their first year have significantly higher survival rates than startups that do not secure funding in their first year. High survival rates are vital to maintaining a robust innovation sector and driving job growth. Therefore, any tech startup that secures venture capital funding in its first year is very likely to survive.

(C) Agricultural Advisor: A recent agricultural study found no evidence of crop failure among organic farms that utilized a new predatory wasp species for pest control. Eliminating crop failure is vital to stabilizing food prices and ensuring national food security. Therefore, commercial farming operations can completely eliminate the risk of crop failure by adopting this pest control method.

(D) Physician: National health data indicates that adults who run in at least one marathon per year have significantly lower rates of heart disease than those who do not. Reducing heart disease is vital because it is a leading cause of death, and its treatment places a massive burden on the healthcare system. Therefore, the government should require all citizens to annually participate in a marathon.

(E) Vice Principal: At our school, students who want to enroll in calculus must first take pre-calculus, because the principles taught in pre-calculus help prepare students for the more advanced topics taught in calculus. Therefore, any student who has not taken pre-calculus, here or elsewhere, will not be permitted to enroll in calculus.

 


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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 10:07
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IMO its D.
The Answer seems to be something which demonstrates Causation not equal to Correlation to justify making participation mandatory.

A. Not Correct: Seems like this is just a rule thaat if I want to send money I should Encrypt data.
B. Not Correct: Its a prediction. It doesn't forces anyone to get the VC Funding.
C. Not Correct: This is just Generalization of something that pest control method eliminates crop failure. Nothing about forcing/mandation to apply somthing.
D. Correct: People running Marathons have Healthier Hearts. Lower Heart Disease is desireable. Hence Everyone should run Marathons.
E. Not Correct: Its a prerequisite. If you didn't take you can't join.

Bunuel
School Board Member: A recent study of high school students in our district found that those who participate in the district's after-school chess program scored significantly higher on the State-mandated Essential Skills in Mathematics (ESM) exam than those who do not. District-wide improvements in average ESM scores are vital to retain public support for the district and to increase the competitiveness of our graduates in the job market. Therefore, the district should mandate participation in the chess program for all high school students.

Which of the following arguments exhibits a flaw similar to the flaw in the reasoning above?

(A) Financial Regulator: Any bank in our country that handles international wire transfers on behalf of their clients must comply with regulations mandating strict data encryption protocols. Meridian National Bank does not currently have the technical ability to encrypt customer data during wire transfers. Therefore, Meridian National Bank cannot legally provide international wire transfers to their customers.

(B) Tech Journalist: Industry surveys indicate that tech startups that secure venture capital funding within their first year have significantly higher survival rates than startups that do not secure funding in their first year. High survival rates are vital to maintaining a robust innovation sector and driving job growth. Therefore, any tech startup that secures venture capital funding in its first year is very likely to survive.

(C) Agricultural Advisor: A recent agricultural study found no evidence of crop failure among organic farms that utilized a new predatory wasp species for pest control. Eliminating crop failure is vital to stabilizing food prices and ensuring national food security. Therefore, commercial farming operations can completely eliminate the risk of crop failure by adopting this pest control method.

(D) Physician: National health data indicates that adults who run in at least one marathon per year have significantly lower rates of heart disease than those who do not. Reducing heart disease is vital because it is a leading cause of death, and its treatment places a massive burden on the healthcare system. Therefore, the government should require all citizens to annually participate in a marathon.

(E) Vice Principal: At our school, students who want to enroll in calculus must first take pre-calculus, because the principles taught in pre-calculus help prepare students for the more advanced topics taught in calculus. Therefore, any student who has not taken pre-calculus, here or elsewhere, will not be permitted to enroll in calculus.

 


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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 10:18
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D

Both bring bout conclusion through circumstantial non-universal facto evidence
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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 10:19
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Flaw in the argument is → study found a coincidence of happening of two events. Gunterstood-s like one is caused by other, and then gave explanation, that since one is very important, so 2nd should be done.
Possibility can be reverse of the given cause-effect relation..or may be any 3rd entity has caused both to happen.
D option perfectly reflect same suggestion based on flawed logic
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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 10:20
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One of the most common flaws seen on the GMAT in my experience:

1. Higher chess participation leads to better exam results so the district should get everyone enrolled in chess.
Assumption is everyone who participates in chess will get the same results, there maybe other factors, not just chess participation.

D - People who run have better health outcomes, better health is important and so everyone should be required to run marathons.

Notice the similarity in the argument, volunteer X leads to better outcomes Y so everyone should be required to enroll in X to get outcome Y. Assumption even though there maybe other factors that cause Y.
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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 10:34
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The key flaw in the argument is that ---> the argument establishes a causation merely based on a correlation between two things happening together

To take an extreme example to illustrate the point: If I say that whenever I go outdoors, it begins to rain. Now I obviously cannot conclude that me going out is causing the rain to fall. Absurd!

The structure of the argument is as follows

A situation is explained in which a correlation was found. Importance of that situation is mentioned. Then a conclusion is mentioned which is a suggestion that all students should participate in the chess progam.

A Incorrect: There is no correlation and suggestion here. The answer is merely a conditional statement that if international transfers ---> encrypytion required and no transfers then no encryption
This statement may be valid but it does'nt replicate the flaw

B Incorrect: There is a correlation here but its coupled with a prediction i.e ANY tech startup .... Is likely to survive" . This is not the same as providing a suggestion that every person belonging to x should do something.

C Incorrect: Extreme answer ---> Words such as "completely eliminate" make this answer extreme and this does not follow the pattern of correlation --> causation + suggestion

D Correct: This follows the exact same pattern as the question. A correlation "Adults .... running a marathon ... Lower heart disease" + suggestion which is Government SHOULD require all citizens to annually paritipate in a marathon

E Incorrect: Honestly there there is no flaw in the argument here, its just talks about a pre-requisite for taking the calculus course. No correlation + suggestion
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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 10:42
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Bunuel
School Board Member: A recent study of high school students in our district found that those who participate in the district's after-school chess program scored significantly higher on the State-mandated Essential Skills in Mathematics (ESM) exam than those who do not. District-wide improvements in average ESM scores are vital to retain public support for the district and to increase the competitiveness of our graduates in the job market. Therefore, the district should mandate participation in the chess program for all high school students.

Which of the following arguments exhibits a flaw similar to the flaw in the reasoning above?

(A) Financial Regulator: Any bank in our country that handles international wire transfers on behalf of their clients must comply with regulations mandating strict data encryption protocols. Meridian National Bank does not currently have the technical ability to encrypt customer data during wire transfers. Therefore, Meridian National Bank cannot legally provide international wire transfers to their customers.

(B) Tech Journalist: Industry surveys indicate that tech startups that secure venture capital funding within their first year have significantly higher survival rates than startups that do not secure funding in their first year. High survival rates are vital to maintaining a robust innovation sector and driving job growth. Therefore, any tech startup that secures venture capital funding in its first year is very likely to survive.

(C) Agricultural Advisor: A recent agricultural study found no evidence of crop failure among organic farms that utilized a new predatory wasp species for pest control. Eliminating crop failure is vital to stabilizing food prices and ensuring national food security. Therefore, commercial farming operations can completely eliminate the risk of crop failure by adopting this pest control method.

(D) Physician: National health data indicates that adults who run in at least one marathon per year have significantly lower rates of heart disease than those who do not. Reducing heart disease is vital because it is a leading cause of death, and its treatment places a massive burden on the healthcare system. Therefore, the government should require all citizens to annually participate in a marathon.

(E) Vice Principal: At our school, students who want to enroll in calculus must first take pre-calculus, because the principles taught in pre-calculus help prepare students for the more advanced topics taught in calculus. Therefore, any student who has not taken pre-calculus, here or elsewhere, will not be permitted to enroll in calculus.

 


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Option (D) is Correct

Premise -> If students join chess class -> they score comparatively higher in math exams than those who do not join it.
Flaw -> argument here assumes -> chess causes higher scores. But in reality, students who are already strong or interested in math may be more likely to self-select a chess class. In that case, making it compulsory to join won't make more results.
Conclusion -> Therefore, the school should mandate chess for all students.

We can create a raw structure here:
Chess -> ESM scores -> public support -> competition among graduates in job market.
Therefore, the government must mandate/force/compel people to join chess.

Option A) Incorrect: because it states it's just a rule. If you can't lock your data safely, you can't transfer money legally; there's no flaw as such here.
Option B) Incorrect: because it says that startups with early funding usually survive; it just makes a guess about the future, but it doesn't try to force a law for all.
Option C) Incorrect: because it talks about bugs and farming, assuming a new method that will eliminate the risk, which is actually a bit too dramatic; it again doesn't force people or mandate a law.
option D) Correct: It is the best example of a similar flaw because here people who run in marathons have healthier hearts. Assuming that running marathons is the only reason to stay healthy by heart. But what if people who run are already fit and fine? The flaw here is the same doctor thinks forcing everyone to run a marathon will lead to a healthy heart. Similar example as per the given para. Both arguments take a healthy choice made by a small group of people and try to turn it into a forced law for everybody.
Option E) Incorrect: because it is just a school requirement to pass basic math before taking advanced math. This is a normal and a logical rule! no flaw.
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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 10:43
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The answer to this question is D.

In the question, the author/ board member wrongly assumes that the students who play chess score higher in Mathematics, making them smart. This is not necessary; there might be a possibility that the students who are good at maths choose to play chess. Moreover, forcing the students will not necessarily make them smart at maths by playing chess.

A similar situation is created in the answer option D, where the physician assumes that because marathon runners have healthy hearts, everyone should run a marathon, neglecting the fact that people who run train themselves, are very fit, and eat healthily. A marathon is not the only factor for a healthy heart.
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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 10:45
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Flaw: assuming correlation as causation(could be the case that students good at math are the ones interested in after class chess)
A: no correlation indicated or logical reasoning
B: takes sample result to be true for all the data
C: takes the result from a minor group(organic farms) and equate it to commercial farms
D: Correct; assuming correlation as causation(could be the case that people with good health are the ones running marathon)
E: flawed reverse logic
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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 11:29
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D same comparison that if someone does a activity(chess or running) mandating that activity will benefit the population
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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 11:36
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Premise: Students who participate in the district's after school chess program score significantly higher on ESM than students who do not. Improving ESM scores is important for the district.
Conclusion: The district should require all high school students to participate in the chess program.
Logical gap: The argument mistakes correlation with causation, ignores the possibility that students who choose chess can be inherently stronger in chess. Playing chess is not a necessary condition for better ESM scores.

Analysing answer choices
A) There is no flaw. Its just the application of the general rule.
B) This one takes the general case to be applicable in each startup. This mistakes the probability among startups to survive after receiving first year funding to be the probability of individual startup to succeed after receiving the funding
C) This confuses not finding evidence to absence of one.
D) This assumes same flaw as argument. It assumes running marathon leads to lower heart risks. It recommends mandatory participation based only on an observed correlation.
E) There is no logical flaw.

Therefore D is the answer
Bunuel
School Board Member: A recent study of high school students in our district found that those who participate in the district's after-school chess program scored significantly higher on the State-mandated Essential Skills in Mathematics (ESM) exam than those who do not. District-wide improvements in average ESM scores are vital to retain public support for the district and to increase the competitiveness of our graduates in the job market. Therefore, the district should mandate participation in the chess program for all high school students.

Which of the following arguments exhibits a flaw similar to the flaw in the reasoning above?

(A) Financial Regulator: Any bank in our country that handles international wire transfers on behalf of their clients must comply with regulations mandating strict data encryption protocols. Meridian National Bank does not currently have the technical ability to encrypt customer data during wire transfers. Therefore, Meridian National Bank cannot legally provide international wire transfers to their customers.

(B) Tech Journalist: Industry surveys indicate that tech startups that secure venture capital funding within their first year have significantly higher survival rates than startups that do not secure funding in their first year. High survival rates are vital to maintaining a robust innovation sector and driving job growth. Therefore, any tech startup that secures venture capital funding in its first year is very likely to survive.

(C) Agricultural Advisor: A recent agricultural study found no evidence of crop failure among organic farms that utilized a new predatory wasp species for pest control. Eliminating crop failure is vital to stabilizing food prices and ensuring national food security. Therefore, commercial farming operations can completely eliminate the risk of crop failure by adopting this pest control method.

(D) Physician: National health data indicates that adults who run in at least one marathon per year have significantly lower rates of heart disease than those who do not. Reducing heart disease is vital because it is a leading cause of death, and its treatment places a massive burden on the healthcare system. Therefore, the government should require all citizens to annually participate in a marathon.

(E) Vice Principal: At our school, students who want to enroll in calculus must first take pre-calculus, because the principles taught in pre-calculus help prepare students for the more advanced topics taught in calculus. Therefore, any student who has not taken pre-calculus, here or elsewhere, will not be permitted to enroll in calculus.

 


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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 11:40
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(D) Like the original argument, this argument begins with an observational correlation: people who run marathons have lower rates of heart disease and assumes that activity itself causes the better outcome. It then makes the same unjustified policy recommendation that everyone should be required to engage in that activity. Both arguments commit the flaw of treating correlation as causation and using it to justify a mandatory policy.
Bunuel
School Board Member: A recent study of high school students in our district found that those who participate in the district's after-school chess program scored significantly higher on the State-mandated Essential Skills in Mathematics (ESM) exam than those who do not. District-wide improvements in average ESM scores are vital to retain public support for the district and to increase the competitiveness of our graduates in the job market. Therefore, the district should mandate participation in the chess program for all high school students.

Which of the following arguments exhibits a flaw similar to the flaw in the reasoning above?

(A) Financial Regulator: Any bank in our country that handles international wire transfers on behalf of their clients must comply with regulations mandating strict data encryption protocols. Meridian National Bank does not currently have the technical ability to encrypt customer data during wire transfers. Therefore, Meridian National Bank cannot legally provide international wire transfers to their customers.

(B) Tech Journalist: Industry surveys indicate that tech startups that secure venture capital funding within their first year have significantly higher survival rates than startups that do not secure funding in their first year. High survival rates are vital to maintaining a robust innovation sector and driving job growth. Therefore, any tech startup that secures venture capital funding in its first year is very likely to survive.

(C) Agricultural Advisor: A recent agricultural study found no evidence of crop failure among organic farms that utilized a new predatory wasp species for pest control. Eliminating crop failure is vital to stabilizing food prices and ensuring national food security. Therefore, commercial farming operations can completely eliminate the risk of crop failure by adopting this pest control method.

(D) Physician: National health data indicates that adults who run in at least one marathon per year have significantly lower rates of heart disease than those who do not. Reducing heart disease is vital because it is a leading cause of death, and its treatment places a massive burden on the healthcare system. Therefore, the government should require all citizens to annually participate in a marathon.

(E) Vice Principal: At our school, students who want to enroll in calculus must first take pre-calculus, because the principles taught in pre-calculus help prepare students for the more advanced topics taught in calculus. Therefore, any student who has not taken pre-calculus, here or elsewhere, will not be permitted to enroll in calculus.

 


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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 11:47
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Option D
As it is indicating the same flaw/ issues as the statement where they are mandating a particular exercise that is not directly involved in the process , like mandating marathon is a very wrong solution for a heath problem , it does not cater to the majority and it is against free will . Similarly mandating having chess is not directly improving the efficiency, there can be many ways and permanent results should not be taken over various studies
Bunuel
School Board Member: A recent study of high school students in our district found that those who participate in the district's after-school chess program scored significantly higher on the State-mandated Essential Skills in Mathematics (ESM) exam than those who do not. District-wide improvements in average ESM scores are vital to retain public support for the district and to increase the competitiveness of our graduates in the job market. Therefore, the district should mandate participation in the chess program for all high school students.

Which of the following arguments exhibits a flaw similar to the flaw in the reasoning above?

(A) Financial Regulator: Any bank in our country that handles international wire transfers on behalf of their clients must comply with regulations mandating strict data encryption protocols. Meridian National Bank does not currently have the technical ability to encrypt customer data during wire transfers. Therefore, Meridian National Bank cannot legally provide international wire transfers to their customers.

(B) Tech Journalist: Industry surveys indicate that tech startups that secure venture capital funding within their first year have significantly higher survival rates than startups that do not secure funding in their first year. High survival rates are vital to maintaining a robust innovation sector and driving job growth. Therefore, any tech startup that secures venture capital funding in its first year is very likely to survive.

(C) Agricultural Advisor: A recent agricultural study found no evidence of crop failure among organic farms that utilized a new predatory wasp species for pest control. Eliminating crop failure is vital to stabilizing food prices and ensuring national food security. Therefore, commercial farming operations can completely eliminate the risk of crop failure by adopting this pest control method.

(D) Physician: National health data indicates that adults who run in at least one marathon per year have significantly lower rates of heart disease than those who do not. Reducing heart disease is vital because it is a leading cause of death, and its treatment places a massive burden on the healthcare system. Therefore, the government should require all citizens to annually participate in a marathon.

(E) Vice Principal: At our school, students who want to enroll in calculus must first take pre-calculus, because the principles taught in pre-calculus help prepare students for the more advanced topics taught in calculus. Therefore, any student who has not taken pre-calculus, here or elsewhere, will not be permitted to enroll in calculus.

 


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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 12:04
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Answer : D as its give reson data and manadate

Bunuel
School Board Member: A recent study of high school students in our district found that those who participate in the district's after-school chess program scored significantly higher on the State-mandated Essential Skills in Mathematics (ESM) exam than those who do not. District-wide improvements in average ESM scores are vital to retain public support for the district and to increase the competitiveness of our graduates in the job market. Therefore, the district should mandate participation in the chess program for all high school students.

Which of the following arguments exhibits a flaw similar to the flaw in the reasoning above?

(A) Financial Regulator: Any bank in our country that handles international wire transfers on behalf of their clients must comply with regulations mandating strict data encryption protocols. Meridian National Bank does not currently have the technical ability to encrypt customer data during wire transfers. Therefore, Meridian National Bank cannot legally provide international wire transfers to their customers.

(B) Tech Journalist: Industry surveys indicate that tech startups that secure venture capital funding within their first year have significantly higher survival rates than startups that do not secure funding in their first year. High survival rates are vital to maintaining a robust innovation sector and driving job growth. Therefore, any tech startup that secures venture capital funding in its first year is very likely to survive.

(C) Agricultural Advisor: A recent agricultural study found no evidence of crop failure among organic farms that utilized a new predatory wasp species for pest control. Eliminating crop failure is vital to stabilizing food prices and ensuring national food security. Therefore, commercial farming operations can completely eliminate the risk of crop failure by adopting this pest control method.

(D) Physician: National health data indicates that adults who run in at least one marathon per year have significantly lower rates of heart disease than those who do not. Reducing heart disease is vital because it is a leading cause of death, and its treatment places a massive burden on the healthcare system. Therefore, the government should require all citizens to annually participate in a marathon.

(E) Vice Principal: At our school, students who want to enroll in calculus must first take pre-calculus, because the principles taught in pre-calculus help prepare students for the more advanced topics taught in calculus. Therefore, any student who has not taken pre-calculus, here or elsewhere, will not be permitted to enroll in calculus.

 


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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 12:06
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option D, it is the only statement that follow similar pattern as the Q.
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Original Argument:

Premise: Students who participate in after-school chess program score significantly higher in ESM than those who do not.
Goal: Improvement in the average ESM score is vital for the district.
Conclusion: Therefore, the district should mandate chess for all high school students.

Possible flaw in the original argument:
Correlation vs Causation/ Selection Bias
The argument assumes that playing chess causes a higher math score. But it ignores selection bias. It might be possible that the students who are already good at maths are more likely to voluntarily join a chess club.

Now looking at the options:
(A) Financial Regulator: There is no logical flaw in this argument. It states a rule and a valid deductive reasoning.

(B) Tech Journalist: Although it does infer prediction from correlation, but it doesn't propose mandating an action. Hence, it is not the correct option.

(C) Agricultural Advisor: This argument is mainly an "overgeneralization" case and it doesn't match the same flaw as in the original argument.

(D) Physician:
Here, Premise: Adults who run marathons have lower rates of heart disease.
Goal: Reducing heart disease is vital.
Conclusion: Therefore, the government should require all citizens to run a marathon.
This is having almost identical flaw, which was found in the original argument that is assuming an observed correlation is causal and using it to justify a universal mandate. This is the correct answer.

(E) Vice Principal: This argument simply establishes a prerequisite (must take pre-calculus before calculus) because it provides necessary foundational knowlege. Hence, it is a logical rule, not a flawed causal argument.

Thus, the correct answer is (D)
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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 12:26
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D follows the same pattern, participation, this is exercise activity and that is chess. Also all other options dont follow the same pattern, hence D
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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 12:30
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My answer is D.
Reasoning pattern in stimulus- participating in chess program leads to higher ESM and higher ESM are required. Conclusion/Plan- Mandate participation
Reasoning pattern in D- Running in marathon leads to reduced heart diseases and lower heart diseases are required. Conclusion/Plan- Mandate running
Bunuel
School Board Member: A recent study of high school students in our district found that those who participate in the district's after-school chess program scored significantly higher on the State-mandated Essential Skills in Mathematics (ESM) exam than those who do not. District-wide improvements in average ESM scores are vital to retain public support for the district and to increase the competitiveness of our graduates in the job market. Therefore, the district should mandate participation in the chess program for all high school students.

Which of the following arguments exhibits a flaw similar to the flaw in the reasoning above?

(A) Financial Regulator: Any bank in our country that handles international wire transfers on behalf of their clients must comply with regulations mandating strict data encryption protocols. Meridian National Bank does not currently have the technical ability to encrypt customer data during wire transfers. Therefore, Meridian National Bank cannot legally provide international wire transfers to their customers.

(B) Tech Journalist: Industry surveys indicate that tech startups that secure venture capital funding within their first year have significantly higher survival rates than startups that do not secure funding in their first year. High survival rates are vital to maintaining a robust innovation sector and driving job growth. Therefore, any tech startup that secures venture capital funding in its first year is very likely to survive.

(C) Agricultural Advisor: A recent agricultural study found no evidence of crop failure among organic farms that utilized a new predatory wasp species for pest control. Eliminating crop failure is vital to stabilizing food prices and ensuring national food security. Therefore, commercial farming operations can completely eliminate the risk of crop failure by adopting this pest control method.

(D) Physician: National health data indicates that adults who run in at least one marathon per year have significantly lower rates of heart disease than those who do not. Reducing heart disease is vital because it is a leading cause of death, and its treatment places a massive burden on the healthcare system. Therefore, the government should require all citizens to annually participate in a marathon.

(E) Vice Principal: At our school, students who want to enroll in calculus must first take pre-calculus, because the principles taught in pre-calculus help prepare students for the more advanced topics taught in calculus. Therefore, any student who has not taken pre-calculus, here or elsewhere, will not be permitted to enroll in calculus.

 


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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 12:34
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Argument structure: Since students who participate in chess are shown to have better scores, chess participation is being suggested as 'MANDATORY/REQUIRED' for all high school students.

A: doesn't look to be similar in structure. Just says bank cannot provide a service since it doesn't comply with some rules. ELIMINATE
B: talks about likelihood, not a 'mandate' ELIMINATE
C: talks about 'can eliminate risk', not a 'requirement' ELIMINATE
D: follows similar structure as the argument. Since the citizens who run a marathon each year are shown to have lower disease rates, running a marathon is being suggested as 'REQUIRED' for all citizens. Keep
E: only talks about a pre-requisite. Not generalizing a group's performance to entire population. ELIMINATE

Should be D)
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GMAT Club World Cup 2026 (Day 1): School Board Member: A recent study 06 Jul 2026, 12:37
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From the argument, we can see that the argument overjumps to the conclusion. It assumes that chess causes the high ESM scores; in other words, confuse correlation with causation. Chess does not necessarily cause high ESM scores. Maybe people who follow the chess program have more time and interest in academics and more intellectual hobbies (such as, maybe, math), and those people allocate more time to homework - one of the explanations that can arise here.

Now, let's see the answer choices we have.

A - This argument does not 'overjump' to the conclusion. Sounds pretty reasonable
B - Here, the mistake is a bit different: the flaw here is generalization. 'Any startup' is very generalized
C - Again, I see generalization - 'completely' is a very strong word
D - Now, this is the flaw we were looking for! Overjumping to conclusions: running a marathon does not necessarily lower the rates of heart disease. Most probably, those people eat healthy food, work out regularly (not just a marathon once a year), and check their cholesterol levels with a doctor – this is what probably lowers the heart disease rates.
E - Sounds reasonable. Students must take pre-calculus; otherwise will not be admitted to the calculus course

Answer: D
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