The manifesto of a non-profit organization claims that its founders'

Question

The manifesto of a non-profit organization claims that its founders' sole purpose is to help people quit smoking cigarettes. The organization's activities are in the form of seminars which are conducted by volunteers in outdoor public areas. Although the seminars carry no expenses, participants are required to pay a fee. It is clear that the organization's members are not acting according to their own manifesto.

The answer to which of the following would be most useful in evaluating the argument?

The answer to which of the following would be most useful in evaluating the argument?

(A) In the event that a participant is not satisfied with the seminar, can that participant receive a refund?

(B) Does the manifesto make any mention of the actual methods used by the volunteers to assist people with their addiction?

(C) Is the fee paid by the participants in the seminar lower than what regular companies would charge for participation in a seminar of a similar nature?

(D) Does the payment of a fee contribute in any way to the process of quitting smoking?

(E) What percentage of the members of the organization are ex-smokers?

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expeditaiusto · Answer

Option D

Premise : Manifesto claims that sole purpose is to help quit smoking 
Premise: People pay, Org is earning money 
Conclusion: Sole purpose breached, hence not following manifesto

D says : what if money earned is used to help people in quit smoking?

Therefore, D is correct

Minka99 · Answer

I believe that  D  is the strongest option here, although I spent most of the time deciding between B and D. I ultimately went for D because it addresses the direct claim of the founders more directly.

Vivek1707 · Answer

A. Refunds don't tell us whether the organization is acting according to its stated purpose.
B. The actual method doesn't matter unless the manifesto specifically requires a certain method.
C. Even a very low fee doesn't prove the organization is acting against its purpose.
D. Correct If paying the fee somehow helps participants quit smoking, then charging a fee isn't inconsistent with the manifesto. If it doesn't, the argument is much stronger.
E. Whether members are ex-smokers has nothing to do with whether the organization is following its stated purpose.

TheAdmissionHub · Answer

The manifesto of a non-profit organization claims that its founders' sole purpose is to help people quit smoking cigarettes. The organization's activities are in the form of seminars which are conducted by volunteers in outdoor public areas. Although the seminars carry no expenses, participants are required to pay a fee. It is clear that the organization's members are not acting according to their own manifesto.

The answer to which of the following would be most useful in evaluating the argument?

The answer to which of the following would be most useful in evaluating the argument?

(A) In the event that a participant is not satisfied with the seminar, can that participant receive a refund?
 Wrong:  the focus is that as they are asked to pay a free, org in not acting according the manifesto. So, we are not concerned with satisfaction level
(B) Does the manifesto make any mention of the actual methods used by the volunteers to assist people with their addiction?
 Wrong:  out of scope
(C) Is the fee paid by the participants in the seminar lower than what regular companies would charge for participation in a seminar of a similar nature?
 Wrong:  we don't need comparisons. it may be lower or not but in any case it wouldn' clarify if org in not acting according the manifesto.
(D) Does the payment of a fee contribute in any way to the process of quitting smoking?
 correct:  if YES it's acting according to the manifesto because it's helping. if NO it's acting against. So, we need to evaluate this one because one side strenghtens and the other side weakens the conclusion. So, it's worth evaluating.
(E) What percentage of the members of the organization are ex-smokers?
 wrong:  out of scope. misses the point

Groot2076 · Answer

I believe that D is the strongest option here, although I spent most of the time deciding between E and D. I ultimately went for D

UpHa · Answer

IMO D. As the response to D would help identifying if the fee money collected is being used in helping smokers quit.

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

The manifesto of a non-profit organization claims that its founders' sole purpose is to help people quit smoking cigarettes. The organization's activities are in the form of seminars which are conducted by volunteers in outdoor public areas. Although the seminars carry no expenses, participants are required to pay a fee. It is clear that the organization's members are not acting according to their own manifesto.

The answer to which of the following would be most useful in evaluating the argument?

The answer to which of the following would be most useful in evaluating the argument?

(A) In the event that a participant is not satisfied with the seminar, can that participant receive a refund?

Incorrect.

To solve this Investigation question, first break down the argument. The first three sentences provide data so they are premises. The last sentence uses the conclusion phrase  It is clear  which tells us it's the argument's conclusion.

Premise A: a non-profit organization claims that its sole purpose is to help people quit smoking
 +
Premise B: the organization holds seminars in public areas
 +
Premise C: the seminars cost money but the organization does not spend anything on holding them (revenues>0 and expenses=0, so profit>0)
 
Conclusion: the members of the organization are going against its original values

Vital factor: ?

You are required to find the factor which is most crucial to the author's conclusion. The correct answer is a question which could support or weaken the conclusion depeneding on its answer.

This question deals with an exception and is therefore not useful in determining whether the conclusion is true. The argument is based on the fact that asking for a fee in the first place is not in accord with the organization's beliefs.

(B) Does the manifesto make any mention of the actual methods used by the volunteers to assist people with their addiction?

Incorrect.

This question is beside the point. What happens in the actual seminar is not important since it can't explain why people must pay for something that costs nothing.

(C) Is the fee paid by the participants in the seminar lower than what regular companies would charge for participation in a seminar of a similar nature?

Incorrect.

Answering this question would make no difference. Even if the fees for the seminar are really low, since there are no expenses, it seems that the organization is making a profit off the participants, while it claims to be a non-profit organization.

(D) Does the payment of a fee contribute in any way to the process of quitting smoking?

Answering this question would either weaken or strengthen the conclusion. If paying the fee does not help people quit smoking in some way, then the demand of such a payment does go against the manifesto. If, however, paying the fee in some way helps the participants reach their goal, then the manifesto has not been contradicted.

(E) What percentage of the members of the organization are ex-smokers?

Incorrect.

To solve this Investigation question, first break down the argument. The first three sentences provide data so they are premises. The last sentence uses the conclusion phrase  It is clear  which tells us it's the argument's conclusion.

Premise A: a non-profit organization claims that its sole purpose is to help people quit smoking
 +
Premise B: the organization holds seminars in public areas
 +
Premise C: the seminars cost money but the organization does not spend anything on holding them (revenues>0 and expenses=0, so profit>0)
 
Conclusion: the members of the organization are going against its original values

Vital factor: ?

You are required to find the factor which is most crucial to the author's conclusion. The correct answer is a question which could support or weaken the conclusion depeneding on its answer.

The answer to this question wouldn't really change anything. Although ex-smokers might have better experience, the effectiveness of the seminars is not in question. Focus on the conclusion - it's the organization's non-profit status that is under examination.

The manifesto of a non-profit organization claims that its founders'

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The manifesto of a non-profit organization claims that its founders'

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