A recent survey conducted in the New Homes magazine indicated that mor

Question

A recent survey conducted in the New Homes magazine indicated that more than 70% of its readers are planning to purchase or build a new home over the next two years. Based on the results of the survey, the editor of the magazine concluded that over the next two years, the real estate industry is likely to experience rapid growth driven by the high market demand for new homes. Which of the following statements, if true, would be the most damaging to the conclusion of the magazine’s editor?

A. The survey included over 50,000 respondents representing all major age categories.

B. The survey was mailed to all the subscribers of the magazine and included prepaid postage to facilitate returning the questionnaire.

C. Readers of the New Homes magazine are much more likely to be interested in buying or purchasing a home than the rest of the public.

D. The number of the magazine’s readers has more than doubled over the past 2 years.

E. All survey respondents received one free issue of the magazine as a token of appreciation for filling out the survey.

This question is part of the  GMAT Club Critical Reasoning: "Weaken an argument" revision Project.

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

In this argument, the editor makes an inference about broad market trends based on the results of the survey conducted in the New Homes magazine. The argument will be weakened if it is shown that the results of the survey are not representative of the public in general and thus cannot serve as a basis for far-reaching, market-wide conclusions.

(A) This answer choice would simply demonstrate that the survey was based on a large sample size representative of all age groups. This information, if anything, would support the integrity of the survey.

(B) While the approach described in this answer choice would likely facilitate obtaining higher response rates for the survey, it provides no information that would question the conclusion of the editor.

(C) CORRECT.  This answer choice demonstrates that the data collected from the survey are unlikely to be representative of the general population, thus weakening the editor’s conclusion about the trend in the broad market. Naturally, if the magazine maintains a strong focus on new homes, its readers are, by definition, interested in buying or building a home; therefore, their responses cannot be used to make conclusions about the overall market trends.

(D) The fact that the number of readers of the magazine has more than doubled does nothing to weaken the argument of the editor. In fact, a greater number of readers may indicate higher interest in real estate, thus supporting rather than weakening the argument of the author.

(E) While receiving modest compensation for filling out the survey could potentially increase the response rate, this factor is unlikely to affect the results of the survey and is therefore outside the scope of the argument.

smartmanav · Answer

In C

Case A
lets say total population of town was 1 million and .9 million of d town people were readers of d magazine, then it strengthens d argument.

Case B
lets say total population of town was 1 million and .1 million of d town people were readers of d magazine, then it weakens d argument.

Correct me if I am wrong.

Aniketa · Answer

Yes! You are right. Logically, if your conclusion says that 70% of population would build a house in less than 2 years, the population should be sample and representative of the entire area/state. If the voters are exclusively those who read the magazine, it is quite possible that they are already reading the magazine because they wish to build a house soon.

jaituteja · Answer

Can someone share the reasons to eliminate other options...

pqhai · Answer

Hi jaituteja.

I'm glad to elaborate.

This is a so-called representative problem. The author just base on  small sample to generalize the trend.   To weaken  the conclusion, you just need to  show the sample is not comprehensive .

ANALYZE THE STIMULUS:

Fact:  A recent survey conducted in the New Homes magazine indicated that more than   70% of its readers   are planning to purchase or build a new home over the next two years
 Conclusion:  over the next two years,  the real estate industry  is likely to experience rapid growth driven by the high market demand for new homes.

Clearly, the conclusion has flaw, the magazine just used data of its readers to generalize a trend. It's vague.

ANALYZE EACH ANSWER:

A) The survey included over 50,000 respondents representing all major age categories.
 Wrong.   It seems tempting , but it’s wrong because  50,000 respondents  of the New Homes magazine  CANNOT represent for all people .

B) The survey was mailed to all the subscribers of the magazine and included prepaid postage to facilitate returning the questionnaire.
 Wrong.  Clearly, It’s out of scope.

C) Readers of the New Homes magazine are much more likely to be interested in buying or purchasing a home than the rest of the public.
  Correct.   This shows the flaw because the New homes magazine’s readers are those who want to buy home than do other people ==> Clearly the conclusion of the magazine is vague.

D) The number of the magazine’s readers has more than doubled over the past 2 years.
 Wrong.  Out of scope. Nothing about the increase of subcribers.

E) All survey respondents received one free issue of the magazine as a token of appreciation
 Wrong.  Out of scope. “free issue” does not help to explain anything.

Hope it helps.

abhishekdadarwal2009 · Answer

A recent survey conducted in the New Homes magazine indicated that more than 70% of its
readers are planning to purchase or build a new home over the next two years. Based on the
results of the survey, the editor of the magazine concluded that over the next two years, the
real estate industry is likely to experience rapid growth driven by the high market demand
for new homes. Which of the following statements, if true, would be the most damaging to
the conclusion of the magazine’s editor?
A) The survey included over 50,000 respondents representing all major age categories.
b) The survey was mailed to all the subscribers of the magazine and included prepaid postage
to facilitate returning the questionnaire.
 c) Readers of the New Homes magazine are much more likely to be interested in buying or
purchasing a home than the rest of the public. 
d) The number of the magazine’s readers has more than doubled over the past 2 years.
e) All survey respondents received one free issue of the magazine as a token of appreciation for
filling out the survey.

C is the correct choice because it says that the people who filled the survey are not the true representation of the total population and that the readers of teh magazine are more intrested in buying property than the people who do not.

anairamitch1804 · Answer

Conclusion :- over the next two years, the real estate industry is likely to experience rapid growth driven by the high market demand for new homes.
Weaken :- over the next two years, the real estate industry is not likely to experience rapid growth driven by the high market demand for new homes.

Answer Choice C :-"Readers of the New Homes magazine are much more likely to be interested in buying or purchasing a home than the rest of the public".

If the readers of the magazine are more interested in buying the home than the rest of the public then the editor's claim that the real estate industry is likely to experience rapid growth driven by the high market demand for new homes is NOT valid because we are taking one sample and comparing it to the rest of the public.

Hence C is correct. Rest all are irrelevant.

Skywalker18 · Answer

A recent survey conducted in the New Homes magazine indicated that more than 70% of its readers are planning to purchase or build a new home over the next two years. Based on the results of the survey, the editor of the magazine concluded that over the next two years, the real estate industry is likely to experience rapid growth driven by the high market demand for new homes.

Type - weaken
Boil it down - 70% of readers will purchase or build home over next 2 years . Thus , real estate industry will boom
Pre- thinking - What if readers of New Homes are not representative of people in general ?

A. The survey included over 50,000 respondents representing all major age categories. - Irrelevant

B. The survey was mailed to all the subscribers of the magazine and included prepaid postage to facilitate returning the questionnaire. Irrelevant

C. Readers of the New Homes magazine are much more likely to be interested in buying or purchasing a home than the rest of the public.- Correct

D. The number of the magazine’s readers has more than doubled over the past 2 years.- Irrelevant

E. All survey respondents received one free issue of the magazine as a token of appreciation for filling out the survey. Irrelevant

Answer C

amanvermagmat · Answer

The main conclusion of the editor is this: that because 70% of this magazine's readers are planning for a new home as per their survey, real estate industry is likely to experience a boom in coming years.

Well, if the survey has sampled people of all kinds, ages etc then this conclusion is very likely to be true. Thus option A actually strengthens the argument, not weaken it.

Whether the survey was facilitated by means of free issue or prepaid postage has nothing to do with why people would respond with a 'yes' on planning their home. So option B and E are irrelevant.

Option D also is irrelevant because increase in readers of this magazine might still mean that readers are a very little percentage of the total population.

Option C, if true, would mean that only this magazine's readers are mainly interested in new homes. Just because few people want homes doesn't mean it would lead to a boom in real estate. This definitely weakens the argument. hence  C answer

thedubey · Answer

A recent survey conducted in the New Homes magazine indicated that more than 70% of its readers are planning to purchase or build a new home over the next two years. Based on the results of the survey, the editor of the magazine concluded that over the next two years, the real estate industry is likely to experience rapid growth driven by the high market demand for new homes. Which of the following statements, if true, would be the most damaging to the conclusion of the magazine’s editor?

A. The survey included over 50,000 respondents representing all major age categories. (It's kind of assumption and strengthen the argument)

B. The survey was mailed to all the subscribers of the magazine and included prepaid postage to facilitate returning the questionnaire. (Irrelevant)

C. Readers of the New Homes magazine are much more likely to be interested in buying or purchasing a home than the rest of the public. (Correct)

D. The number of the magazine’s readers has more than doubled over the past 2 years. (good sample space, it means strengthen)

E. All survey respondents received one free issue of the magazine as a token of appreciation for filling out the survey. (irrelevant)

sandman13 · Answer

C shows a sampling error in the survey. Clear (and a very common) weakener in survey questions.

VerbalBot · Answer

Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.

A recent survey conducted in the New Homes magazine indicated that mor

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

A recent survey conducted in the New Homes magazine indicated that mor

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