Marion knows that the bridge on her usual route is closed and that

Question

Marion knows that the bridge on her usual route is closed ( it doesnt mean that marion's usual route is shortest route to her work place)
the usual route taken by marion could be because of any reasons )
if marion doesnt take train, she can get to work on time only by leaving at least 45 minutes early.( this time which route is taken by marion? some other route ...

D is correct ans
treats evidence (she hates taking train) that someone will adopt a particular course of action ( taking train) as though that evidence excluded the possibility of an alternative course of action ( there could be shortest way to reach work)

The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument

(A) mistakes a situation that almost certainly affects many people for one that affects a particular person alone

(B) ignores the fact that people often know that something is the case without considering all the consequences that follow from its being the case

(C) assumes without justification that because people generally have an interest in avoiding a given result, any particular person will have an interest in avoiding that result

(D) treats evidence that someone will adopt a particular course of action as though that evidence excluded the possibility of an
alternative course of action

(E) overlooks the possibility that someone might occasionally adopt a given course of action without having a good reason for doing so

LamboWalker · Answer

Marion's usual route is closed. If she were to drive to work, she would have to leave 45 mins early, which she cant as she has to visit the bank which opens after 45 mins. Hence, because Marion HATES trains, the author believes that she will definitely drive & instead prefer being late to work. We are to identify a flaw in this reasoning.

(A) mistakes a situation that almost certainly affects many people for one that affects a particular person alone
We are not interested in other people in this argument, only talking about Marion here.

(B) ignores the fact that people often know that something is the case without considering all the consequences that follow from its being the case 
Not in line with this argument.

(C) assumes without justification that because people generally have an interest in avoiding a given result, any particular person will have an interest in avoiding that result 
Same reasoning as option A.

(D) treats evidence that someone will adopt a particular course of action as though that evidence excluded the possibility of an
alternative course of action
Exactly! The author is treating the train option as if it doesn't even exist.

(E) overlooks the possibility that someone might occasionally adopt a given course of action without having a good reason for doing so 
The course of action is using train for travel. Marion does have a good reason to take train hence this cant be right.

Answer is  D .

Angad2553 · Answer

Marion knows that the bridge on her usual route is closed ( it doesnt mean that marion's usual route is shortest route to her work place)
the usual route taken by marion could be because of any reasons )
if marion doesnt take train, she can get to work on time only by leaving at least 45 minutes early.( this time which route is taken by marion? some other route ...

D is correct ans
treats evidence  (she hates taking train) that someone will adopt a particular course of action ( taking train) as though that evidence excluded the possibility of an alternative course of action ( there could be shortest way to reach work)

MT1302 · Answer

IMO D .

(D) treats evidence that  someone  (must be talking about Maria) will adopt a particular course of action(car + bank) as though that evidence excluded the possibility of an alternative course of action(May be there is some route other than bank which the author has not looked upon).
for eg. : Car + Some shortest route

Rest all arguments you can notice that it is talking about  People  which falls  out of the scope  of  argument  as author has not mentioned what other people want.

(A) mistakes a situation that almost certainly affects many people for one that affects a particular person alone 
Many people - Is the argument even talking about it.  Many people  - falls  out of the scope  of  argument

(B) ignores the fact that people often know that something is the case without considering all the consequences that follow from its being the case
Suppose  people  (out of the scope of argument)   even consider the consequences , still she'll be late for work .

(C) assumes without justification that because  people  (out of the scope of argument) generally have an interest in avoiding a given result, any particular person will have an interest in avoiding that result

(E) overlooks the possibility that someone(may be Maria) might  occasionally  (too weak a answer choice) adopt a given course of  action (bank + car) without having a good  reason  for doing so (even if she has a reason for using bank + car route , still she will be late for work).

Hope it helps.

SudhanshuC · Answer

Options - A, B and C generalizes for all people, but the passage is specific about Marion. So, they are wrong.

Option E says there is “no good reason” whereas in case of Marion, the reason is very clear (Marion hates train journeys and at the same time, she has a mandatory bank work to finish - that is why she is taking her car and will hence be late). 
...................................................................................................................

‘Evidence’ is that Marion hates traveling by train.  
 ‘Particular course of action’ is Marion will not travel by train, but by her car. 
 But this evidence / fact doesn’t mean that she will never travel by train  .  
 So, there is the possibility of an ‘alternative course of action’ - Marion will travel by train (& reach work on time along with completing her bank’s work).

Hence,    Option D    is correct.

SudhanshuC · Answer

Options A, B and C generalizes for all people, but the passage is specific about Marion. So, they are wrong.

Option E says there is “no good reason” whereas in case of Marion, the reason is very clear (Marion hates train journeys and at the same time, she has a mandatory bank work to finish - that is why she is taking her car and will hence be late). 
...................................................................................................................

‘Evidence’ is that Marion hates traveling by train.  
 ‘Particular course of action’ is Marion will not travel by train, but in her car.

But this evidence / fact doesn’t mean that she will never travel by train  .  
 So, there is the possibility of an ‘alternative course of action’ - Marion will travel by train (& reach work on time along with completing her bank’s work).

Hence,    Option D    is correct.

unraveled · Answer

Marion knows that the bridge on her usual route is closed ( it doesnt mean that marion's usual route is shortest route to her work place)
the usual route taken by marion could be because of any reasons )
if marion doesnt take train, she can get to work on time only by leaving at least 45 minutes early.( this time which route is taken by marion? some other route ...

D is correct ans
treats evidence (she hates taking train) that someone will adopt a particular course of action ( taking train) as though that evidence excluded the possibility of an alternative course of action ( there could be shortest way to reach work)

The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument

(A) mistakes a situation that  almost certainly affects many people  for one that affects a particular person alone - WRONG. Not at all the case in passage. Only Marion is affected by that result.

(B) ignores the fact that people  often know that something is the case without considering  all the consequences that follow from its being the case - WRONG. Knowing often isn't realistic as far as the passage is considered.

(C) assumes without justification that because  people generally have an interest in avoiding a given result , any particular person will have an interest in avoiding that result - WRONG. Generic case is different from Marion's.

(D) treats evidence that  someone will adopt a particular course of action as though that  evidence excluded the possibility of an
alternative course of action - CORRECT. No other situation is considered neither suggested in the passage.

(E) overlooks the possibility that someone might occasionally adopt a given course of action  without having a good reason for doing so  - WRONG. Marion hates the train, so there is a reason for that result.

Answer D.

Marion knows that the bridge on her usual route is closed and that

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

Marion knows that the bridge on her usual route is closed and that

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