Online retail sales have been increasing annually for a number of year

Question

Online retail sales have been increasing annually for a number of years. When packages fulfilling these sales are delivered to homes, the dogs in those homes bark both when the delivery truck approaches the home and when the doorbell is rung. Because the dogs perceive the delivery activities as a threat to their territory, they bark more loudly and for a longer time then they do when they bark for other reasons. Consequently, there is bound to be an increase in the number of barking-dog nuisance complaints called in to local police departments.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

A. There are indications that in recent years, the daily number of residences visited by each delivery truck has markedly increased.

B. The increase in the number of packages delivered per day to residences on weekends has not increased at the same rate as those delivered on weekdays.

C. Some people are concerned about crime and want to be aware when their neighborhoods are entered by nonresidents.

D. Complaints about barking dogs almost always arise after a longstanding feud between neighbors results in overreactions to common disturbances.

E. Due to the intense competition for customers, more online retailers are offering free or discounted shipping fees or requiring smaller minimum orders for free shipping.

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Vibhatu · Answer

A. There are indications that in recent years, the daily number of residences visited by each delivery truck has markedly increased.

B. The increase in the number of packages delivered per day to residences on weekends has not increased at the same rate as those delivered on weekdays.

C. Some people are concerned about crime and want to be aware when their neighborhoods are entered by nonresidents.

D. Complaints about barking dogs almost always arise after a longstanding feud between neighbors results in overreactions to common disturbances.

E. Due to the intense competition for customers, more online retailers are offering free or discounted shipping fees or requiring smaller minimum orders for free shipping.

Dereno · Answer

The question opens up with a view online retail sales has been increasing annually for a number of years.

This online retail sale products has to be delivered to the customers. The packages are delivered to the homes directly, but there arises a problem.

The homes have dogs to guard them. When the package delivery person comes to drop the package, the dog starts barking.

The dog barking has a pattern - it barks under the following scenarios: 1) When it sees the arrival of a delivery truck ; 2) When the door bell is rung.

The barking sound becomes louder and persistent- when the person approaches the territory of dog, and when it personally feels it as a threat.

The author concludes, this to be a barking nuisance and cases of complaints being registered with the local police department.

The core reasoning here is : increased deliveries leading to frequent dog barking. This leads further to increased nuisance and more complaints with the local police.

We need to weaken this argument. Let’s look into the options.

A. There are indications that in recent years, the daily number of residences visited by each delivery truck has markedly increased.

This actually strengthens the argument. The frequency of delivery trucks increases, eventually leading to increase of dog barks and follow up activities (More complaints) . Hence, Wrong.

B. The increase in the number of packages delivered per day to residences on weekends has not increased at the same rate as those delivered on weekdays.

The comparison between weekdays and weekends is completely irrelevant to the situation in hand. Hence, Wrong.

C. Some people are concerned about crime and want to be aware when their neighborhoods are entered by nonresidents.

The presence of a dog is seen as a sign of protection rather than sign of nuisance, so this might lead to lesser complaints. But, the word “SOME” refers to a small segment of the population, and not the majority - eventually leading this option to be a weakening statement. But, not that strong enough to be an answer.

D. Complaints about barking dogs almost always arise after a longstanding feud between neighbors results in overreactions to common disturbances. 
 
This nullifies the base reason behind the cause for complaints. It brings into account a different reason, which completely questions the credibility of the complaints given at local police station. Back tracking, questioning the evidence whether the dog actually barked. Hence, a weakener.

E. Due to the intense competition for customers, more online retailers are offering free or discounted shipping fees or requiring smaller minimum orders for free shipping.

This actually is a strengthening option, as it increases the frequency of delivery trucks, which has a chain reaction culminating at the hike in number of complaints. Hence, Wrong.

Option D

Bunuel · Answer

KAPLAN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION:

The correct answer to this question will be the choice that breaks the connection between the number of barking-dog nuisance complaints and the more frequent deliveries to homes that make dogs bark more often, louder, and longer.  (D) provides such a situation : there is another reason people complain about barking dogs. If the real source of such complaints is a tendency to overreact to "common disturbances," then the frequency and intensity of the dog's barking are not the determining factors; there will likely be the same number of calls to the police whether the dog woofs softly and occasionally or loudly several times a day. This answer choice doesn't prove that the increase in deliveries won't result in an increase in complaints, but it weakens this prediction, and that is enough. (A) and (E) are strengtheners. Strengtheners are common trap answers to Weaken questions because a strengthener matches the terms of the argument precisely, but has the opposite effect on the argument. Both an increase in the number of homes visited by each truck daily (A) and lower shipping costs (E) indicate that there will be more deliveries and, therefore, more occasions for loud barking. (B) makes an irrelevant comparison. The argument does not mention, and is not affected by, the days of the week deliveries occur. (C) has no effect on the argument. Even if some people appreciate dogs barking at deliveries, these presumably would not be the neighbors who would call in a nuisance-barking complaint in any case. It is the people who don't like to hear dogs barking who will be more disturbed by an increased incidence of barking at deliveries.

Online retail sales have been increasing annually for a number of year

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GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Online retail sales have been increasing annually for a number of year

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