by: MarkGMATMentor
24 mins
by: hitakshim
25 mins
Events & Promotions
|
|
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.
Sep 1312:30 AM EDT
-01:30 AM EDT
Struggling to find the right strategies to score a 99 %ile on GMAT Focus? Riya (GMAT 715) boosted her score by 100-points in just 15 days! Discover how the right mentorship, tailored strategies, and an unwavering mindset can transform your GMAT prep.
Sep 1301:30 AM EDT
-02:30 AM EDT
At one point, she believed GMAT wasn’t for her. After scoring 595, self-doubt crept in and she questioned her potential. But instead of quitting, she made the right strategic changes. The result? A remarkable comeback to 695. Check out how Saakshi did it.
Sep 1507:00 PM EDT
-09:00 PM EST
Elite scores are possible when you enroll in a powerful GMAT course, taught live online + 6 months access to TTP OnDemand video courses included! Class starts Tues/Thurs Sept. 15, 2026 - Nov. 15, 2027, 7:00pm-9:00pm EST
Sep 1808:00 PM PDT
-09:00 PM PDT
Video explanations + diagnosis of 10 weakest areas + 150+ short videos + study plan!
Sep 2107:00 PM EDT
-10:00 PM EDT
Boost your GMAT score in less than one month in a live online class + 6 months access to TTP OnDemand video courses included! Class starts Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri Sept. 21, 2026 - Oct. 9, 2027, 7:00pm-10:00pm EST
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
25%
(medium)
Question Stats:
79% (01:55) correct
21%
(02:07)
wrong
based on 476
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
One of the advantages of Bacillus thuringiensls (B.t.) toxins over chemical insecticides results from their specificity for pest insects. The toxins have no known detrimental effects on mammals or birds. In addition, the limited range of activity of the toxins toward insects means that often a particular toxin will kill pest species but not affect insets that prey upon the species. This advantage makes B.t. toxins preferable to chemical insecticides for use as components of insect pest management programs.
Which one of the following statements, if true, most weakens the argument?
(A) Chemical insecticides cause harm to a greater number of insect species than do B.t. toxins.
(B) No particular B.t. toxin is effective against all insects.
(C) B.t. toxins do not harm weeds that do damage to farm crops.
(D) Insects build up resistance more readily to B.t. toxins than to chemical insecticides.
(E) Birds and rodents often do greater damage to farm crops than do insects.
_________________
New to the GMAT Club?
- • Questions: Question Bank | Bunuel's Signature Collection
• Tests: GMAT Club Tests | Forum Quiz
• Guides: Quantitative | Critical Reasoning | Reading Comprehension | Ultimate Quant Guide | All You Need for Quant
• Rules: Quantitative | Verbal
Quote:
argument
=bt>chems because…
=bt not detri to mammals or birds
=bt kills pest species, but not affect insects that prey
wkn
(A) strg
(B) irev
(C) irev
(E) trap: the argument main point refers to damage from insects
Ans (D) if insects build rest more often to bt x chems, than this is a disadvantage, weakening the arg.
Conclusion: BT toxin should be used in pest management programs.
To weaken it we need BT toxin should NOT be preferred over chemical toxin.
D perfectly weakens the conclusion. If insects build up resistance to bt toxins more than chemical toxins, the usage of bt toxins in pest management programs then is called into question.
Answer: D
To weaken it we need BT toxin should NOT be preferred over chemical toxin.
D perfectly weakens the conclusion. If insects build up resistance to bt toxins more than chemical toxins, the usage of bt toxins in pest management programs then is called into question.
Answer: D
Bunuel
I have a doubt "often a particular toxin will kill pest species but not affect insets that prey upon the species"- the point after but " not affect insects that prey upon species"---- Here species is pest species?? And if they are pest species than is author saying this in favour of B.T. I.e it is a good thing that insects are not affecting. Than I think "d" is a strengthener not weakener.
Please explain the above.
Thanks in advance.
jrk23
Hi,
Yes "species" there refers to Pest insect species but in this sentence "not affect insects that prey upon species", the "insects" are the ones (good insects) which eat or kill the pest insect species.
So, if BT toxins don't kill "good insects" then both BT toxins and good insects can kill more pest insect species.
And Option "D" talks about the Pest insects not the "Good insects". That is why if Pest insects get resistant, BT toxins become disadvantageous for future use.
I hope this helps.
Posts: 457
(A) Chemical insecticides cause harm to a greater number of insect species than do B.t. toxins. - This advocates for BT, not go against it. Hence, eliminate (A).
(B) No particular B.t. toxin is effective against all insects. - (B) is a bit too extreme. Besides, we are concerned with pest insects and not the entire clan of insects. eliminate (B)
(C) B.t. toxins do not harm weeds that do damage to farm crops. - Though this does look like a good contender, but the argument is all about B.T Toxin and Chemical insecticides. Since we need to stick within the boundary of this passage, (C) will be considered out of scope. Hence, eliminate (C).
(D) Insects build up resistance more readily to B.t. toxins than to chemical insecticides. - This attacks B.T toxin directly. Hence, (D) is the right answer.
(E) Birds and rodents often do greater damage to farm crops than do insects. - irrelevant. Hence, eliminate (E)
(B) No particular B.t. toxin is effective against all insects. - (B) is a bit too extreme. Besides, we are concerned with pest insects and not the entire clan of insects. eliminate (B)
(C) B.t. toxins do not harm weeds that do damage to farm crops. - Though this does look like a good contender, but the argument is all about B.T Toxin and Chemical insecticides. Since we need to stick within the boundary of this passage, (C) will be considered out of scope. Hence, eliminate (C).
(D) Insects build up resistance more readily to B.t. toxins than to chemical insecticides. - This attacks B.T toxin directly. Hence, (D) is the right answer.
(E) Birds and rodents often do greater damage to farm crops than do insects. - irrelevant. Hence, eliminate (E)
One of the advantages of Bacillus thuringiensls (B.t.) toxins over chemical insecticides results from their specificity for pest insects. The toxins have no known detrimental effects on mammals or birds. In addition, the limited range of activity of the toxins toward insects means that often a particular toxin will kill pest species but not affect insets that prey upon the species. This advantage makes B.t. toxins preferable to chemical insecticides for use as components of insect pest management programs.
Which one of the following statements, if true, most weakens the argument?
(A) Chemical insecticides cause harm to a greater number of insect species than do B.t. toxins. - WRONG. Supports the passage rather.
(B) No particular B.t. toxin is effective against all insects. - WRONG. Passage particularly points out about specific species so this choice unnecessarily brings all insects into consideration.
(C) B.t. toxins do not harm weeds that do damage to farm crops. - WRONG. Weed is out of scope of the passage hence irrelevant.
(D) Insects build up resistance more readily to B.t. toxins than to chemical insecticides. - CORRECT. A resistant insect nullify the impact BT has over it the claim made in the passage go weak.
(E) Birds and rodents often do greater damage to farm crops than do insects. - WRONG. Yes, they might be doing but that is not necessary for the argument to hold or fall apart. So, this basically has no impact and it because conclusion is not about who damages crop more but about BT toxins being more preferable.
Answer D.
_________________
Which one of the following statements, if true, most weakens the argument?
(A) Chemical insecticides cause harm to a greater number of insect species than do B.t. toxins. - WRONG. Supports the passage rather.
(B) No particular B.t. toxin is effective against all insects. - WRONG. Passage particularly points out about specific species so this choice unnecessarily brings all insects into consideration.
(C) B.t. toxins do not harm weeds that do damage to farm crops. - WRONG. Weed is out of scope of the passage hence irrelevant.
(D) Insects build up resistance more readily to B.t. toxins than to chemical insecticides. - CORRECT. A resistant insect nullify the impact BT has over it the claim made in the passage go weak.
(E) Birds and rodents often do greater damage to farm crops than do insects. - WRONG. Yes, they might be doing but that is not necessary for the argument to hold or fall apart. So, this basically has no impact and it because conclusion is not about who damages crop more but about BT toxins being more preferable.
Answer D.
_________________
Pain + Reflection = Progress | Ray Dalio
Good Books to read prior to MBA
Good Books to read prior to MBA
Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot:
A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.
This post was generated automatically.
_________________
A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.
This post was generated automatically.
_________________
Moderators:
Announcements
How to Tell If Your GMAT Prep Resources Are Actually Helping You
Subscribe to GMAT Club for New Podcast Episodes, Debriefs, & Insightful Sessions on GMAT Preparation
Subscribe to GMAT Club for New Podcast Episodes, Debriefs, & Insightful Sessions on GMAT Preparation
Tuck at Dartmouth
AI at Dartmouth Tuck: How the School Is Preparing Leaders for the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Inside the courses, research, and hands-on learning defining wise, decisive leadership in an AI-driven world.
Read More
Inside the courses, research, and hands-on learning defining wise, decisive leadership in an AI-driven world.
Read More
Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos
Success stories and strategies from high-scoring candidates.