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16 Sep 2014, 01:59
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The author of a book that examines the link between work-related stress and productivity loss in small businesses argues that most workers underestimate the detrimental physical effects of unprocessed anxiety. Stressful situations trigger the release of powerful hormones like cortisol and epinephrine, which increase heart rate and blood pressure, preparing the body for physical activity. However, since business environments are generally restrictive, workers have limited opportunities to physically respond to stress as their hormones would dictate.
Based on the passage, which of the following can be most directly inferred?
A. The majority of productivity loss in small businesses is attributed to unprocessed stress hormones.
B. Physical activity would help workers process stress hormones.
C. Hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine enhance critical thinking in addition to raising blood pressure.
D. The restrictive nature of business environments exacerbates workers' stress levels.
E. Workers in physically demanding roles experience fewer issues with work-related stress.
Based on the passage, which of the following can be most directly inferred?
A. The majority of productivity loss in small businesses is attributed to unprocessed stress hormones.
B. Physical activity would help workers process stress hormones.
C. Hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine enhance critical thinking in addition to raising blood pressure.
D. The restrictive nature of business environments exacerbates workers' stress levels.
E. Workers in physically demanding roles experience fewer issues with work-related stress.
16 Sep 2014, 01:59
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Official Solution:
The author of a book that examines the link between work-related stress and productivity loss in small businesses argues that most workers underestimate the detrimental physical effects of unprocessed anxiety. Stressful situations trigger the release of powerful hormones like cortisol and epinephrine, which increase heart rate and blood pressure, preparing the body for physical activity. However, since business environments are generally restrictive, workers have limited opportunities to physically respond to stress as their hormones would dictate.
Based on the passage, which of the following can be most directly inferred?
A. The majority of productivity loss in small businesses is attributed to unprocessed stress hormones.
B. Physical activity would help workers process stress hormones.
C. Hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine enhance critical thinking in addition to raising blood pressure.
D. The restrictive nature of business environments exacerbates workers' stress levels.
E. Workers in physically demanding roles experience fewer issues with work-related stress.
General Approach
The approach to these GMAT Critical Reasoning questions is to carefully dissect the passage to understand the author's argument, focusing on the evidence presented and the logic of the argument. Then, each answer choice should be reviewed in light of the author's argument in the passage.
Correct Answer
A) Incorrect. The passage does not claim that most productivity loss in small businesses is due to unprocessed stress hormones. The author only asserts a relationship between work-related stress and productivity loss.
p>B) Correct Answer. The passage states that stress hormones “prepare the body for physical activity,” yet business settings restrict such movement. Therefore, allowing more physical activity would enable workers to process those hormones, a direct inference from the described cause-and-effect.
C) Incorrect. The passage does not discuss the effect of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine on critical thinking. The focus is on their physical effects i.e., increasing heartbeat and blood pressure.
D) Incorrect. The reason D is wrong is because it confuses the process of what the passage claims happens. It flips things around. Here is a basic diagram of how things progress:
[table cellspacing="0"] Stressful
Situations --> Release of
powerful -->
hormones No way to burn up these hormones
with physical activity because of -->
restrained environment of the office Unprocessed
Anxiety -- > Health Issues
Productivity Drop [/table]
So what restrained environment does is that it causes issues/problems to the right of it, such as Unprocessed Anxiety and Health Issues as well as Productivity Drop.
It does not cause or contribute to things to the left of it, such as Stressful Situations or Release of Hormones. Those events happen independently of the restrained environment. (arrows are used to indicate the progression of the process, not necessarily causality).
E) INcorrect The passage does not discuss workers in more physically demanding jobs. The argument is centered around workers in business environments, which are described as 'restrained'. Therefore, any inference about workers in more physically demanding jobs would not be directly supported by the passage.
Answer: B
The author of a book that examines the link between work-related stress and productivity loss in small businesses argues that most workers underestimate the detrimental physical effects of unprocessed anxiety. Stressful situations trigger the release of powerful hormones like cortisol and epinephrine, which increase heart rate and blood pressure, preparing the body for physical activity. However, since business environments are generally restrictive, workers have limited opportunities to physically respond to stress as their hormones would dictate.
Based on the passage, which of the following can be most directly inferred?
A. The majority of productivity loss in small businesses is attributed to unprocessed stress hormones.
B. Physical activity would help workers process stress hormones.
C. Hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine enhance critical thinking in addition to raising blood pressure.
D. The restrictive nature of business environments exacerbates workers' stress levels.
E. Workers in physically demanding roles experience fewer issues with work-related stress.
General Approach
The approach to these GMAT Critical Reasoning questions is to carefully dissect the passage to understand the author's argument, focusing on the evidence presented and the logic of the argument. Then, each answer choice should be reviewed in light of the author's argument in the passage.
Correct Answer
A) Incorrect. The passage does not claim that most productivity loss in small businesses is due to unprocessed stress hormones. The author only asserts a relationship between work-related stress and productivity loss.
p>B) Correct Answer. The passage states that stress hormones “prepare the body for physical activity,” yet business settings restrict such movement. Therefore, allowing more physical activity would enable workers to process those hormones, a direct inference from the described cause-and-effect.
C) Incorrect. The passage does not discuss the effect of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine on critical thinking. The focus is on their physical effects i.e., increasing heartbeat and blood pressure.
D) Incorrect. The reason D is wrong is because it confuses the process of what the passage claims happens. It flips things around. Here is a basic diagram of how things progress:
[table cellspacing="0"] Stressful
Situations --> Release of
powerful -->
hormones No way to burn up these hormones
with physical activity because of -->
restrained environment of the office Unprocessed
Anxiety -- > Health Issues
Productivity Drop [/table]
So what restrained environment does is that it causes issues/problems to the right of it, such as Unprocessed Anxiety and Health Issues as well as Productivity Drop.
It does not cause or contribute to things to the left of it, such as Stressful Situations or Release of Hormones. Those events happen independently of the restrained environment. (arrows are used to indicate the progression of the process, not necessarily causality).
E) INcorrect The passage does not discuss workers in more physically demanding jobs. The argument is centered around workers in business environments, which are described as 'restrained'. Therefore, any inference about workers in more physically demanding jobs would not be directly supported by the passage.
Answer: B
swanidhi
Joined: 11 Oct 2013
Last visit: 14 Jul 2023
Posts: 66
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Concentration: Marketing, General Management
Schools: Tepper MISM '17 (A) SPJ PGPM"16 (A)
GMAT 1: 600 Q41 V31
09 Dec 2015, 05:10
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I think this is a high-quality question and I agree with explanation.
