Over the last year, the price that toy manufacturer FunTime charges

Question

Over the last year, the price that toy manufacturer FunTime charges for each toy it produces and sells directly to consumers has, on average, nearly doubled, prompting complaints to the company by many consumers. To combat this problem, FunTime’s management must make every effort to improve relations with its union workers in order to help prevent them from striking, as these workers did for several weeks during the past year.

Which of the following, if true, would cast the most doubt on the effectiveness of the proposal suggested above?

(A) Despite the complaints from consumers, sales of FunTime toys directly to consumers have increased steadily over the last year.

(B) FunTime’s union workers are likely to be skeptical of any attempt by management to improve its relations with them.

(C) Some consumers who buy FunTime toys don’t mind paying more for them because they are the highest quality toys available.

(D) FunTime’s union workers are likely to strike again in the near future, regardless of management’s efforts to improve relations with them.

(E) Most of the increase in the prices of FunTime toys is attributable to an increase in the cost of the raw materials the company uses to manufacture its toys.

Source:  Master GMAT

Nipungupta9081 · Answer

IMO E

The argument assumes that union-relations problems are the major cause of the price increase. Choice E undermines the logic of the proposed solution by suggesting that another factor—the cost of raw materials—may be more important.

Posted from my mobile device

winterschool · Answer

I think answer - B

(A) Despite the complaints from consumers, sales of FunTime toys directly to consumers have increased steadily over the last year.

Incorrect  - If sales increased then why need to improve relation with union

(B) FunTime’s union workers are likely to be skeptical of any attempt by management to improve its relations with them.

Correct  - union workers are skeptical in every attempt of management then it is less likely to possible to improve relations

(C) Some consumers who buy FunTime toys don’t mind paying more for them because they are the highest quality toys available.

Incorrect  - Irrelevant

(D) FunTime’s union workers are likely to strike again in the near future, regardless of management’s efforts to improve relations with them.

Incorrect  - we need to solve recent problem, not future problem

(E) Most of the increase in the prices of FunTime toys is attributable to an increase in the cost of the raw materials the company uses to manufacture its toys.

Incorrect  - price increased for cost of raw materials, so consumer complain is unjustifiable

Spunk17 · Answer

Can someone explain why is B wrong?

pranjalg · Answer

Which of the following, if true, would cast the most doubt on the effectiveness of the proposal suggested above?

We need to keep the effectiveness of the proposal in mind while going through options.
The proposal is based on the reason for increasing prices as union workers strikes.

B. Does cast a doubt, but 'likely' indicates a probability. If the reason identified is correct, the posposal might still be implemented effectively.

E. Casts most doubt by shifting the reason to cost of raw materials and thus even if the proposal is implemented, it will not be effective in reducing the prices. 
E. asserts an alternate reason for the problem itself and thus casts the most doubt on effectiveness of the proposal.

Posted from my mobile device

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

The argument assumes that union-relations problems are the major cause of the price increase.  Choice (E)  undermines the logic of the proposed solution by suggesting that another factor—the cost of raw materials—may be more important.

The correct answer is (E).

Sjsnns · Answer

Posted from my mobile device

nishchalgarg4 · Answer

please explain why the answer is E

MartyTargetTestPrep · Answer

The passage could be worded a bit better, because, in saying "To combat this problem, FunTime’s management must make every effort to improve relations with its union workers," the passage implies that the company could in fact combat the problem by improving relations with its union workers.

That said, the reason why (E) is meant to be correct is that, by saying "Most of the increase in the prices of FunTime toys is attributable to an increase in the cost of the raw materials the company uses to manufacture its toys," (E) indicates that the strategy of improving relations with union workers is not likely to work, because most of the increases in the prices of the toys was caused not by the actions of union workers but by the increase in the price of raw materials. So, improving relations with union workers will not solve the price increase problem.

ameenalmd · Answer

although i got confused with D ,  E seems a perfect fit  , since it shows dependencies on other factors which can't be resolved to solve the problem by attending slightly unrelated problems like getting along well with union members.

Its_me_aka_ak · Answer

Why not D?
if nothing can stop union from going on a strike that directly cuts the main part of the passage "To combat this problem, FunTime’s management must make every effort to improve relations with its union workers in order to help prevent them from striking"

Sajjad1994 · Answer

(D)  implies that management's efforts to improve relations are unlikely to prevent future strikes, thereby suggesting that the proposal will not be effective in preventing strikes and consequently not effective in addressing the price issue

On the other hand,  (E)  indicates that the main reason for price increases is the cost of raw materials, not the strikes. Therefore, even if relations with union workers improve and strikes are prevented, the prices will not necessarily decrease. This directly undermines the proposal by pointing out an alternative cause for the price increase.

Answer: E

diasdexter766 · Answer

E brings in new information to reduce or minimize the credibility of the conclusion!

A new premise added on to impact the conclusion - negatively!

Its_me_aka_ak · Answer

Thanks for clarity, Sajjad.
I see my mistake being the identification of the conclusion.

Over the last year, the price that toy manufacturer FunTime charges

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Over the last year, the price that toy manufacturer FunTime charges

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards