When workers do not find their assignments challenging, they become bo

Question

When workers do not find their assignments challenging, they become bored and so achieve less than their abilities would allow. On the other hand, when workers find their assignments too difficult, they give up and so again achieve less than what they are capable of achieving. It is, therefore, clear that no workers' full potential will ever be realized.

Which one of the following is an error of reasoning contained in the argument?

(A) mistakenly equating what is actual and what is merely possible

(B) assuming without warrant that a situation allows only two possibilities

(C) relying on subjective rather than objective evidence

(D) confusing the coincidence of two events with a causal relation between the two

(E) depending on the ambiguous use of a key term

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Official Explanation

This argument commits the fallacy of false dichotomy. It assumes that workers have only two reactions to their work—either it’s not challenging or it’s too challenging. Clearly, there is a wide range of reactions between those two extremes.  The answer is (B).

WiziusCareers1 · Answer

The argument mentions only two conditions:
Not challenging and too challenging

Based on these two situations, the argument concludes that the full potential cannot be realised.
What about the situations in between these two extremes?

(A) mistakenly equating what is actual and what is merely possible 
 Both the situations mentioned in the argument are possible.

(B) assuming without warrant that a situation allows only two possibilities 
 Correct answer.

(C) relying on subjective rather than objective evidence 
 The two situations could as well be objective.

(D) confusing the coincidence of two events with a causal relation between the two 
 He is not confusing but completely missing that situation between the two extremes are possible.

(E) depending on the ambiguous use of a key term
 no term is used ambiguously

Bunuel · Answer

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

(A) No. This argument commits the fallacy of false dichotomy. It assumes that workers have only two reactions to their work—either it’s not challenging or it’s too challenging. Clearly, there is a wide range of reactions between those two extremes.

(B) Yes.  This argument commits the fallacy of false dichotomy. It assumes that workers have only two reactions to their work—either it’s not challenging or it’s too challenging. Clearly, there is a wide range of reactions between those two extremes.

(C) No. We cannot tell from the passage whether the evidence is subjective or objective.

(D) No. This argument commits the fallacy of false dichotomy. It assumes that workers have only two reactions to their work—either it’s not challenging or it’s too challenging. Clearly, there is a wide range of reactions between those two extremes.

(E) No. This argument commits the fallacy of false dichotomy. It assumes that workers have only two reactions to their work—either it’s not challenging or it’s too challenging. Clearly, there is a wide range of reactions between those two extremes.

When workers do not find their assignments challenging, they become bo

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

When workers do not find their assignments challenging, they become bo

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