In a study of the first 1000 business school applications submitted to

Question

Which of the following best completes the passage below?

In a study of the first 1000 business school applications submitted to University X, it was found that one-fifth of all applicants claimed to have more years of work experience than they truly possess. However, the study may underestimate the proportion of total applicants to University X who are dishonest, because

a) the proportion of students who are dishonest about their work experience may be higher out of those who submitted their application after the first 1000 applicants than those applicants who were covered in the study

b) the study may have considered an applicant dishonest when it was unable to easily verify work experience because a prior employer for which the applicant truly worked had since gone out of business

c) some applicants who claimed to have possessed only a year or two of additional professional experience than they really had were also dishonest in other parts of their applications

d) some applicants who claimed over a decade of work experience really possessed such professional history

e) the proportion of applicants at University Y who were dishonest on their applications was larger than that of University X

KarishmaB · Answer

The study took into account first 1000 applications to univ X. But the last sentence talks about total applicants to univ X. 
"However, the study may underestimate  the proportion of total applicants to University X who are dishonest , because"

In the first 1000 applications, the study found that 1/5th were dishonest. It is possible that half of the rest of the applicants are dishonest and hence 1/5 may underestimate the proportion of dishonest applicants. (A) explains this and hence complete the passage.

None of the other options are suitable:

b)the study may have considered an applicant dishonest when it was unable to easily verify work experience because a prior employer for which the applicant truly worked had since gone out of business
This leads us to believe that the study may have overestimated the number of dishonest applicants, not underestimated.

c)some applicants who claimed to have possessed only a year or two of additional professional experience than they really had were also dishonest in other parts of their applications
This doesn't change the number of dishonest applicants. Had we been told that those who were honest in their work ex information were dishonest elsewhere, then this would have become a contender.

d)some applicants who claimed over a decade of work experience really possessed such professional history
Doesn't give any explanation for underestimation.

e)the proportion of applicants at University Y who were dishonest on their applications was larger than that of University X
Nothing says that proportion of dishonest applicants has to be the same across all universities.

Answer (A)

LighthousePrep · Answer

This question is employing a "biased sample fallacy." To say that "a studying of the first 1000 applicants" reflects "all applicants" is not necessarily true. The second sentence is trying to weaken the original claim by saying it is invalid (underestimates the proportion).

a)  addresses the fallacy correctly by saying that the sample doesn't reflect the population 
b) is the opposite of what the second sentence is claiming (overestimates vs. underestimates)
c) the degree of dishonesty is not relevant to labeling an applicant as "dishonest"
d) this statement doesn't add any value one way or the other
e) University Y is irrelevant to this passage.

Nevernevergiveup · Answer

In a study of the first 1000 business school applications submitted to University X, it was found that one-fifth of all applicants have fake experience. 
 However,  the study may underestimate the proportion of total applicants to University X who are dishonest,

because _______________________

a)the proportion of students who are dishonest about their work experience may be higher out of those who submitted their application after the first 1000 applicants than those applicants who were covered in the study

so students who are not considered part of study if large in number than those of study, then surely it is underestimating the proportion of cheaters. So this choice addresses the paradox required.

b)the study may have considered an applicant dishonest when it was unable to easily verify work experience because a prior employer for which the applicant truly worked had since gone out of business

This does not address the paradox but instead widens thereby weaking the conclusion since it removes entities with experience as fake ones.

c)some applicants who claimed to have possessed only a year or two of additional professional experience than they really had were also dishonest in other parts of their applications

Irrespective of duration dishonesty is same for all applications and this info does not provide any reason to address teh paradox. It is not clear whether these applications are part of 1000 taken for study or not. This does not help us anyway.

d)some applicants who claimed over a decade of work experience really possessed such professional history

This widens the paradox instead of addressing it just as option B did.

e)the proportion of applicants at University Y who were dishonest on their applications was larger than that of University X

This is out of scope since we are not concerned about applications of other university and comparison of both. This does not help us.

gmat1393 · Answer

Prethinking: Of the remaining 4/5th of the applicants, majority of them might be dishonest in one or other parts of their application.

Option A matches this and is the correct answer.

assaad · Answer

VERITAS PREP OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

Correct Answer: A

The correct answer to this question is (A). This is a unique type of STRENGTHEN question, requiring the test taker to choose the correct answer that provides new and relevant information to support the conclusion that the study underestimates the proportion of total applicants who are dishonest. Choice A is the correct answer. If the latter applicants not part of the study were dishonest at a higher rate than those who were considered in the study, then the study may underestimate the proportion of total applicants who are dishonest. Regarding choice B, if the study includes some applicants as dishonest when they were really honest, then the study may actually overestimate the proportion of total applicants who are dishonest. Answer choice C is incorrect because the degree of dishonesty in the application as a whole is irrelevant, as the conclusion simply deals with the proportion of applicants who are dishonest. Choice D does not lead to an underestimation, and in fact would weaken the conclusion. Choice E is incorrect because the relationship between the applicants of University Y and those of University X is out of scope of the conclusion.

level 600-650

VerbalBot · Answer

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In a study of the first 1000 business school applications submitted to

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