Last visit was: 23 Apr 2026, 18:38 It is currently 23 Apr 2026, 18:38
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Close
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

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
555-605 (Medium)|   Weaken|      
User avatar
Sajjad1994
User avatar
GRE Forum Moderator
Joined: 02 Nov 2016
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 16,814
Own Kudos:
51,905
 [1]
Given Kudos: 6,334
GPA: 3.62
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Posts: 16,814
Kudos: 51,905
 [1]
Compared to older houses, new houses are sure to have newer, more effi 09 Jun 2020, 03:32
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

35% (medium)

Question Stats:

66% (01:33) correct 34% (01:39) wrong based on 165 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Compared to older houses, new houses are sure to have newer, more efficient heating and cooling units, more modern kitchen appliances, and more contemporary-style bathroom fixtures. They also generally conform to current building-code regulations, whereas many older houses do not. Accordingly, it is always advantageous to purchase a new home rather than an old home.

Which of the following, if true, is the best criticism of the advice given in the argument above?

(A) Some people prefer more traditional styles of bathroom fixtures over contemporary styles.

(B) Whether a house has new equipment and fixtures and conforms to current code requirements are not the only factors home buyers consider important when choosing a house.

(C) New houses are generally more expensive than older houses of comparable size.

(D) When an older house is sold, correcting any code violations is the responsibility of the seller.

(E) In general, older houses have more of the kinds of details that lend charm to a home than do new houses.

Source: Master GMAT
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
B
User avatar
abhishekdadarwal2009
User avatar
Joined: 04 Sep 2015
Last visit: 07 Dec 2022
Posts: 524
Own Kudos:
487
 [2]
Given Kudos: 123
Location: India
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 524
Kudos: 487
 [2]
Compared to older houses, new houses are sure to have newer, more effi 11 Jun 2020, 05:30
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
SajjadAhmad
Compared to older houses, new houses are sure to have newer, more efficient heating and cooling units, more modern kitchen appliances, and more contemporary-style bathroom fixtures. They also generally conform to current building-code regulations, whereas many older houses do not. Accordingly, it is always advantageous to purchase a new home rather than an old home.

Which of the following, if true, is the best criticism of the advice given in the argument above?

Source: Master GMAT
Show more

IMO B

(A) Some people prefer more traditional styles of bathroom fixtures over contemporary styles.
 there are more benefits to new houses than just bathroom fixtures,weak answer.

(B) Whether a house has new equipment and fixtures and conforms to current code requirements are not the only factors home buyers consider important when choosing a house.
Correct answer that the above mentioned parameters may not be the only onse that a home buyer considers, and ther may be some disadvantages attached to them as well.So it may not always be advantageous.

(C) New houses are generally more expensive than older houses of comparable size.
Yes they are, but we never discussed the prices.
(D) When an older house is sold, correcting any code violations is the responsibility of the seller.
Yes, ut the seller may or may not correct the code, and even if he corrects then also the new house will have some advantages to new house, its a weak weakner option :P
(E) In general, older houses have more of the kinds of details that lend charm to a home than do new houses.
yes true thats what a broker would tell you, but this has nothing to do with our discussion. it is again a weak weakener and we have a better option available.
User avatar
gvij2017
User avatar
Joined: 09 Aug 2017
Last visit: 18 Jun 2024
Posts: 663
Own Kudos:
508
Given Kudos: 778
Posts: 663
Kudos: 508
Compared to older houses, new houses are sure to have newer, more effi 11 Jun 2020, 08:41
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
1. Which of the following, if true, is the best criticism of the advice given in the argument above?

2. Which of the following, if true, is the best weakener for the argument above?

Criticism of advice given in argument here is different from weakener of the argument.
We can criticize the advice by option B as many other important factors are considered by buyers.

But when we say about weakener, then I think E is best choice as old house has much more charm comparative to new homes.

Going with this, I agree that B is correct in for given Q stem.
User avatar
stne
User avatar
Joined: 27 May 2012
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,809
Own Kudos:
2,090
 [1]
Given Kudos: 679
Posts: 1,809
Kudos: 2,090
 [1]
Compared to older houses, new houses are sure to have newer, more effi 11 Jun 2020, 12:15
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
SajjadAhmad
Compared to older houses, new houses are sure to have newer, more efficient heating and cooling units, more modern kitchen appliances, and more contemporary-style bathroom fixtures. They also generally conform to current building-code regulations, whereas many older houses do not. Accordingly, it is always advantageous to purchase a new home rather than an old home.

Which of the following, if true, is the best criticism of the advice given in the argument above?

(A) Some people prefer more traditional styles of bathroom fixtures over contemporary styles.

(B) Whether a house has new equipment and fixtures and conforms to current code requirements are not the only factors home buyers consider important when choosing a house.

(C) New houses are generally more expensive than older houses of comparable size.

(D) When an older house is sold, correcting any code violations is the responsibility of the seller.

(E) In general, older houses have more of the kinds of details that lend charm to a home than do new houses.

Source: Master GMAT
Show more

Based on the proof, Author concludes: Accordingly, it is always advantageous to purchase a new home rather than an old home.

So we have find the best option that criticizes the advise.

(A) Some people prefer more traditional styles of bathroom fixtures over contemporary styles: only deals with one feature of the house (Bathroom), this single feature cannot outweigh the other advantages offered by the new houses. Hence NOT a strong criticism of the advise.INCORRECT.

(B) Attacks all the features of the new houses that were cited as being their advantages. Hence a stronger critique than A. KEEP.

(C) Lower Price was never considered as an advantage of the new houses, hence newer houses being higher priced cannot be a considered a disadvantage. Not criticising the advise. INCORRECT.

(D) Instead of criticizing, it actually strengthens the advise indirectly implying that it is dis-advantageous to buy an older house. Better to buy a newer one.INCORRECT.

(E) Does talk a little, about older houses having more charm but does not attack the advantages of new houses as strongly as option B. INCORRECT.

Hence Option B is the best option critiquing the advice.

Ans- B

Hope it's clear.
avatar
jaisonsunny77
avatar
Joined: 05 Jan 2019
Last visit: 25 Aug 2021
Posts: 457
Own Kudos:
394
 [2]
Given Kudos: 28
Posts: 457
Kudos: 394
 [2]
Compared to older houses, new houses are sure to have newer, more effi 11 Jun 2020, 18:35
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Type: Weaken the advice (conclusion)

Conclusion: it is always advantageous to purchase a new home rather than an old home.

Key idea: advantages refers to the ''factors/features'' that buyers seek.

(A) Some people prefer more traditional styles of bathroom fixtures over contemporary styles. - a ''preference'' does not weaken the conclusion.

(B) Whether a house has new equipment and fixtures and conforms to current code requirements are not the only factors home buyers consider important when choosing a house. - (B) implies that there are factors other than those mentioned in the passage that buyers consider before purchasing a house. Hence, on the basis of the factors mentioned in the passage, one cannot simply state the generalized conclusion (that it is always advantageous to purchase a new home rather than an old home.). (B) therefore weakens the conclusion. Hence, (B) is the right answer choice.

(C) New houses are generally more expensive than older houses of comparable size. - ''expense'' is not mentioned as a factor that buyers consider.

(D) When an older house is sold, correcting any code violations is the responsibility of the seller. - this would lend support to the conclusion, not weaken it.

(E) In general, older houses have more of the kinds of details that lend charm to a home than do new houses. - ''charm'' may add aesthetic value to a house but this factor alone cannot support the generalized conclusion since it is still possible that despite the charming aesthetic beauty, new house will be preferred over the old ones for a variety of other reasons.
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7391 posts
AbhishekP220108
501 posts
bhanu29
358 posts