Two naval cadetsSteve and Robertreceived the same the evaluation in

Question

Two naval cadets—Steve and Robert—received the same the evaluation in only one of four areas. Each evaluation was on a scale of 1 to 10.

From which of the following statements can one determine whose average score was higher on the evaluation?

(A) Robert graduated at the top of his class.
(B) Steve scored higher than Robert in two areas and neither cadet scored below 5 in any area.
(C) Steve’s lowest score was less than or equal to Robert’s highest score.
(D) Robert received a score of 10 in three areas and Steve did not score higher than 8 in any area.
(E) Robert’s highest score and Steve’s lowest score were in the same area.

Source:   Nova GMAT  
Difficulty Level:   750

sobby · Answer

Opted for D ...official explanation ??

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pushpitkc · Answer

Option D leads to Robert having a higher score, since there is a difference of 6 at the bare minimum(even if Steve makes 3 8's). The question statement says Robert and Steve have the exact same score in one of the 4 areas, which is the fourth area score. Hence, the average will always be greater for Robert.

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ydmuley · Answer

I too fell for D - BTW even if we add values how come we get both C and D as answers?

Option C
 
 S R
1 10 8
2 10 8
3 10 8
4 8 8 
T = 38 32 -

Hence - C can be the answer too

Option D

S R
1 10 8
2 10 8
3 10 8
4 9 9 
T = 39 33 -

Answer is coming as True for D as well.

Please provide OE!

abhimahna · Answer

Hi  SajjadAhmad  ,

Can you please confirm the OA?

I think answer should be D.

Even if we take 8 as a score for Steve in all area, we will get Steve's total score = 32 and Robert's total score = 38.

You can also check for any values, Robert is going to be the winner.

Please confirm the answer.

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Hi

abhimahna

ziyuen

Its answer is C

here is the explanation

Since they scored the same in
only one area, Steve’s lowest score was equal to
Robert’s highest score. Hence, in the other three areas
Steve scored higher than Robert. Thus, Steve’s average score is higher than Robert’s.

Thanks

goforgmat · Answer

how do you eliminate D then? Please post the OE in detail to explain why d is wrong!

abhimahna · Answer

I donot agree with your explanation. Let me break your case. Let's say Steve scored 10 in all areas. In that case Steve's lowest will be equal to his highest score. Now as per point C, We are saying this 10 is equal to Robert's highest score. Now, it means Robert's other scores will be either 10 or less than 10. But we are given that they scored same in only one area. It means Robert's other scores are lower than 10. => Robert's average could be lower than that of Steve. Hence, your point is weakened as per my explanation. Look at the explanation I gave for point D. https://gmatclub.com/forum/two-naval-ca ... l#p1847383 I hope that makes sense. Please confirm the OA.

warriorguy · Answer

One more vote for option D.

Or you did not copy paste it accurately. "received the same the evaluation in only one of four areas." this shows a typo. Please re-check

Sajjad1994 · Answer

I have pasted it correctly, there may be an error in the book
here are the screen shots of question as well as OE

GMATNinja · Answer

I hate to be the bad guy who keeps saying this, but you're looking at a deeply, deeply flawed question here. It doesn't resemble a real GMAT CR question at all -- and either (C) or (D) can be defended here. That's not how the actual GMAT works. The correct answer might be hard to spot on a real GMAT CR question, but it will be 100% unambiguous.

Seriously, please don't waste any more of your precious time on this mess!

Seriously, please don't waste any more of your precious time on this mess!

chetan2u · Answer

Hi,
Agreed "The Q is completely flawed", but I don't think you can defend C..

Four areas for evaluation from 1-10. Only one area it is same. Whose average or for that matter TOTAL in four areas is more.

(C) Steve’s lowest score was less than or equal to Robert’s highest score.
Two scenarios out of 100s-
i) Steve's all scores are lower than Robert's. It is nowhere mentioned ONLY one score is lower than Robert's highest.
Steve's score - 1,2,3,4 and Robert's - 4,5,6,9...... R has greater average.
ii) Steve's one score is lesser, one equal to R's highest. 
S- 4,7,9,10 and R-1,2,3,7....S is more.
So noway to establish whose average is more. 
If ONLY is inserted in (C) Steve’s lowest score was  the only score  less than or equal to Robert’s highest score.
OR
(C) Steve’s  lowest  ONLY ONE score was less than or equal to Robert’s highest score.

(D) Robert received a score of 10 in three areas and Steve did not score higher than 8 in any area.
So R has 30+x, and max of S 8*3+x.... x is the same score..
So S is always going to be less by ATLEAST 30-24=6..

So ONLY D can be defended.

GMATNinja · Answer

Lol! Yup, I 100% misread (C). Foul on the supposed expert!

But yeah: not a quality question, even if my response wasn't high-quality, either. Nothing to see here, unless you're entertained by my brainfarts...

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chetan2u · Answer

Hi,
LOL, We all have our share of brainfarts, so I don't think anyone should try to find some entertainment in it..
I'm sure people would have found in my posts too.....So you continue your good job of helping others..

And yes a poor Q with even worse explanation..

Mahmud6 · Answer

I would like to request the Moderators to remove this post from the forum. This is very misleading for the learners. It indirectly decreases the value of gmatclub.com, which I admire all time.

Two naval cadetsSteve and Robertreceived the same the evaluation in

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