Beat The GMAT

gmatmachoman · Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:55 am

1. Houses built during the last ten years have been found to contain indoor air pollution at levels that are, on average, much higher than the levels found in older houses. The reason air-pollution levels are higher in the newer houses is that many such houses are built near the sites of old waste dumps or where automobile emissions are heavy. Which of the following, if true, calls into question the explanation above?

(A) Many new houses are built with air-filtration systems that remove from the house pollutants that are generated indoors.
(B) The easing of standards for smokestack emissions has led to an increase in air-pollution levels in homes.
(C) New houses built in secluded rural areas are relatively free of air pollutants.
(D) Warm-weather conditions tend to slow down the movement of air, thus keeping pollution trapped near its source.
(E) Pressboard, an inexpensive new plywood substitute now often used in the construction of houses, emits the pollutant formaldehyde into the house.

IMO E

Back to top

pandeyvineet24 · Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:10 am

IMO E

E suggests a alternate cause of the pollution in the house.

Back to top

mp2437 · Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:20 am

agree with E. The stimulus says that pollution is higher in new houses because they are located closer to areas that emit pollutants, however, choice E introduces an alternative explanation which weakens the conclusion.

Back to top

Elena392 · Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:31 am

The answer is E.
In this agrument we have to weaken the conclusion.
In A it is written that systems remove the pullutants from houses. But we know that the houses are polluted, and need to know other reasons for pollution.
In B the standards were changed for all houses, but we need information only about the new ones.
In C we can find information, which can strenghen the conclusion, not weaken it.
In D we cannot find information about the causes of in door pollution in new houses.
E is correct because tells us about the pressboard which emits the pollutant formaldehyde into the house. As a result, we can weaken the conclusion of the argument saying that formaldehyde not the waste dumps or automobile emissions is the real causes of pollution.

Back to top

heshamelaziry · Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:34 pm

Why D is wrong ? D says that worm weather keeps pollutants near the source, thus not getting into the houses.
E talks about a certain pollutant that is not mentiones in the passage and does not explain how this construction pollutant stops the pollutants from dumping sites and cars' emissions from getting into houses.

Could someone explain ?

gmatmachoman.

Could you provide OA ?

Back to top

lav · Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:39 pm

this is a Weakening question. ques stem asks you to identify the option that weakens the arg.
option D supports the arg. warm weather --> slow air movt @ source --> new house @ source --> high pollution in new house
only option E weakens by introducing new source for pollutant

Back to top

Beat The GMAT

Wondeful CR

Free GMAT Prep Resources

GMAT Prep Discounts

Free Upcoming GMAT Events

Latest GMAT Articles

Latest GMAT Videos

Popular Resources