|
|
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
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
12 Aug 2024, 09:12
Kudos
Bookmarks
Health Advocate's Argument: The implementation of mandatory calorie counts on all restaurant menus is widely seen as an effective measure to combat obesity. Studies have shown that when calorie information is readily available, people choose options with fewer calories. Therefore, a health official proposes that all restaurants should be required to display calorie counts, aiming to reduce the national obesity rate within 10 years.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument that mandatory calorie counts will reduce the national obesity rate?
A. Many restaurants that voluntarily provide calorie counts have seen a decrease in customers, indicating potential revenue losses for businesses.
B. Studies demonstrating the effectiveness of calorie labeling were conducted primarily in fast-food restaurants, which make up only a small portion of all dining establishments.
C. Restaurants that have already implemented calorie counts report difficulties in accurately estimating the calorie content for every dish, leading to frequent revisions.
D. Foods that are high in calories are often the most affordable options, making them more appealing despite calorie count displays.
E. Many foods that do not have high-calorie counts are still unhealthy because of high salt or sugar content, which is not necessarily reflected in calorie counts alone.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument that mandatory calorie counts will reduce the national obesity rate?
A. Many restaurants that voluntarily provide calorie counts have seen a decrease in customers, indicating potential revenue losses for businesses.
B. Studies demonstrating the effectiveness of calorie labeling were conducted primarily in fast-food restaurants, which make up only a small portion of all dining establishments.
C. Restaurants that have already implemented calorie counts report difficulties in accurately estimating the calorie content for every dish, leading to frequent revisions.
D. Foods that are high in calories are often the most affordable options, making them more appealing despite calorie count displays.
E. Many foods that do not have high-calorie counts are still unhealthy because of high salt or sugar content, which is not necessarily reflected in calorie counts alone.
12 Aug 2024, 09:12
Kudos
Bookmarks
Official Solution:
Health Advocate's Argument: The implementation of mandatory calorie counts on all restaurant menus is widely seen as an effective measure to combat obesity. Studies have shown that when calorie information is readily available, people choose options with fewer calories. Therefore, a health official proposes that all restaurants should be required to display calorie counts, aiming to reduce the national obesity rate within 10 years.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument that mandatory calorie counts will reduce the national obesity rate?
A. Many restaurants that voluntarily provide calorie counts have seen a decrease in customers, indicating potential revenue losses for businesses.
B. Studies demonstrating the effectiveness of calorie labeling were conducted primarily in fast-food restaurants, which make up only a small portion of all dining establishments.
C. Restaurants that have already implemented calorie counts report difficulties in accurately estimating the calorie content for every dish, leading to frequent revisions.
D. Foods that are high in calories are often the most affordable options, making them more appealing despite calorie count displays.
E. Many foods that do not have high-calorie counts are still unhealthy because of high salt or sugar content, which is not necessarily reflected in calorie counts alone.
Correct Answer: B. Studies demonstrating the effectiveness of calorie counts have primarily focused on fast food restaurants, which only represent a portion of the restaurant industry.
Explanation: This choice questions the supporting evidence used in the advocate's argument. By highlighting that the positive studies on calorie counts were focused only on fast food restaurants, it calls into question whether the same results would apply across the broader restaurant industry, including fine dining, casual dining, and other types of eateries that may have different customer demographics and dining habits. This means that while the plan worked in fast food restaurants, the trends in other restaurants may reverse this success.
(A) Many restaurants that voluntarily provide calorie counts have seen a decrease in customers, indicating potential revenue losses for businesses.
Losing revenue is bad for business and restaurants but our concern is with obesity and calorie information influencing decisions, so this statement is irrelevant to the argument. As all restaurants will be required to post calorie information, this answer choice would not impact the argument much. If anything, it supports and strengthens the advocate's argument. Eliminate.
(C) Restaurants that have already implemented calorie counts report difficulties in accurately estimating the calorie content for every dish, leading to frequent revisions.
This means that there may be some inaccuracies on the menu due to estimation of calories but inaccuracies would likely be fixed with frequent revisions (they are frequent after all). Also, we do not know if the inaccuracies are leading to over or under-estimate the calorie count, creating an unknown effect, and finally, we would expect that it would not be happening daily over the next 10 years, yet even if it does, the effect is unknown. Bottom line is that it is hard to make good use of this information alone and say with confidence that difficulty in estimating calorie content will throw a wrench into the whole plan of printing calorie information which deters people from consuming high calorie food. We do not see a guaranteed way that it would. This is more of a logistical / operational hassle.
(D) Foods that are high in calories are often the most affordable options, making them more appealing despite calorie count displays.
This is a trap choice. Just because we started printing calorie information on the menus, does not mean that people will suddenly rush to buy cheaper high-calorie food. That is because they have been likely buying it all along even without calorie information to tell them anything. We have not changed prices - we have only added calorie information and we know from studies that this move works in shaping consumer choices towards lower-calorie options. Eliminate
(E) Many foods that do not have high-calorie counts are still unhealthy because of high salt or sugar content, which is not necessarily reflected in calorie counts alone.
Our argument is obesity and high-calorie food. This option tells us that food that may not be high in calories could still be unhealthy in other ways. However, it does not tie health and obesity together. While a food may be unhealthy, it may not lead to obesity. As the result, this choice does not help us with refuting the conclusion that putting calorie count information on the menu will reduce obesity. Eliminate.
Answer: B
Health Advocate's Argument: The implementation of mandatory calorie counts on all restaurant menus is widely seen as an effective measure to combat obesity. Studies have shown that when calorie information is readily available, people choose options with fewer calories. Therefore, a health official proposes that all restaurants should be required to display calorie counts, aiming to reduce the national obesity rate within 10 years.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument that mandatory calorie counts will reduce the national obesity rate?
A. Many restaurants that voluntarily provide calorie counts have seen a decrease in customers, indicating potential revenue losses for businesses.
B. Studies demonstrating the effectiveness of calorie labeling were conducted primarily in fast-food restaurants, which make up only a small portion of all dining establishments.
C. Restaurants that have already implemented calorie counts report difficulties in accurately estimating the calorie content for every dish, leading to frequent revisions.
D. Foods that are high in calories are often the most affordable options, making them more appealing despite calorie count displays.
E. Many foods that do not have high-calorie counts are still unhealthy because of high salt or sugar content, which is not necessarily reflected in calorie counts alone.
Correct Answer: B. Studies demonstrating the effectiveness of calorie counts have primarily focused on fast food restaurants, which only represent a portion of the restaurant industry.
Explanation: This choice questions the supporting evidence used in the advocate's argument. By highlighting that the positive studies on calorie counts were focused only on fast food restaurants, it calls into question whether the same results would apply across the broader restaurant industry, including fine dining, casual dining, and other types of eateries that may have different customer demographics and dining habits. This means that while the plan worked in fast food restaurants, the trends in other restaurants may reverse this success.
(A) Many restaurants that voluntarily provide calorie counts have seen a decrease in customers, indicating potential revenue losses for businesses.
Losing revenue is bad for business and restaurants but our concern is with obesity and calorie information influencing decisions, so this statement is irrelevant to the argument. As all restaurants will be required to post calorie information, this answer choice would not impact the argument much. If anything, it supports and strengthens the advocate's argument. Eliminate.
(C) Restaurants that have already implemented calorie counts report difficulties in accurately estimating the calorie content for every dish, leading to frequent revisions.
This means that there may be some inaccuracies on the menu due to estimation of calories but inaccuracies would likely be fixed with frequent revisions (they are frequent after all). Also, we do not know if the inaccuracies are leading to over or under-estimate the calorie count, creating an unknown effect, and finally, we would expect that it would not be happening daily over the next 10 years, yet even if it does, the effect is unknown. Bottom line is that it is hard to make good use of this information alone and say with confidence that difficulty in estimating calorie content will throw a wrench into the whole plan of printing calorie information which deters people from consuming high calorie food. We do not see a guaranteed way that it would. This is more of a logistical / operational hassle.
(D) Foods that are high in calories are often the most affordable options, making them more appealing despite calorie count displays.
This is a trap choice. Just because we started printing calorie information on the menus, does not mean that people will suddenly rush to buy cheaper high-calorie food. That is because they have been likely buying it all along even without calorie information to tell them anything. We have not changed prices - we have only added calorie information and we know from studies that this move works in shaping consumer choices towards lower-calorie options. Eliminate
(E) Many foods that do not have high-calorie counts are still unhealthy because of high salt or sugar content, which is not necessarily reflected in calorie counts alone.
Our argument is obesity and high-calorie food. This option tells us that food that may not be high in calories could still be unhealthy in other ways. However, it does not tie health and obesity together. While a food may be unhealthy, it may not lead to obesity. As the result, this choice does not help us with refuting the conclusion that putting calorie count information on the menu will reduce obesity. Eliminate.
Answer: B
avigoesforMBA
Joined: 21 May 2024
Last visit: 02 May 2026
Posts: 60
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 27
Location: India
Schools: Sloan (MIT)
GMAT Focus 1: 655 Q79 V87 DI82 
GMAT Focus 2: 665 Q82 V85 DI82
Products:
07 Sep 2025, 00:53
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hey Bunuel, it's true that B generalises but even so, how does it become a weakener? I get how it's not representative but what if the majority obesity is driven by fast food restaurants. We don't know that? This answer makes me assume a no. of things.
D, on the other hand, says that despite calorie count, people will always prefer more affordable options which happen to have more calories. Doesn't this attack the plan and the evidence that the study didn't take into consideration the affordability factor.
D, on the other hand, says that despite calorie count, people will always prefer more affordable options which happen to have more calories. Doesn't this attack the plan and the evidence that the study didn't take into consideration the affordability factor.
