Critical Reasoning

State researchers have found that since the oil price increases of the 1970s, there has been a decline in home energy consumption. They concluded that almost all of the decline has been achieved through reduced standards of living and changes in the way people spend their time.

Each of the following, if true, would support the conclusion above EXCEPT:

(A) Sales of portable heaters rose as families concentrated their winter activities in a limited number of rooms.
(B) During the winter months, more people frequented public places such as libraries and community centers and, on the average, spent considerably longer periods in them than they had previously.
(C) More than 39 percent of households were able to decrease energy costs substantially by having relatively inexpensive work done to improve the efficiency of their existing heating systems.
(D) At least 59 percent of households maintained a lower indoor temperature than they had been accustomed to maintain on very cold days.
(E) Members of at least 60 percent of households showered for shorter periods of time than they had previously.

OA: later

IMO E
rest all shows some ways of reduction in home energy consumption, hence supports the conclusion
except E

IMO E. Shower has nothing to do with oil prices and energy.

gmat_perfect wrote:State researchers have found that since the oil price increases of the 1970s, there has been a decline in home energy consumption. They concluded that almost all of the decline has been achieved through reduced standards of living and changes in the way people spend their time.

Each of the following, if true, would support the conclusion above EXCEPT:

(A) Sales of portable heaters rose as families concentrated their winter activities in a limited number of rooms.
(B) During the winter months, more people frequented public places such as libraries and community centers and, on the average, spent considerably longer periods in them than they had previously.
(C) More than 39 percent of households were able to decrease energy costs substantially by having relatively inexpensive work done to improve the efficiency of their existing heating systems.
(D) At least 59 percent of households maintained a lower indoor temperature than they had been accustomed to maintain on very cold days.
(E) Members of at least 60 percent of households showered for shorter periods of time than they had previously.

OA: later

IMO E

gmat_perfect.
can u please post the OA.

IMO C. It seems that it is not same as decreasing standard of living......

IMO C

decline has been achieved through reduced standards of living and changes in the way people spend their time.


So we need to find one which does not support the above argument(ie)reduced standard of living and changes in way spending their time.

All supports the 2 causes.

But C alone provides an alternative to reduce the energy consumption.

What is OA?

Strange .. I thought "E" will consume energy as in a HOT WATER Shower..

IMO -- B -- AM not sure though

Shawshank wrote:Strange .. I thought "E" will consume energy as in a HOT WATER Shower..

IMO -- B -- AM not sure though

E doesnt mention the word "hot water".

E seems correct to me, but i am not sure - OA please

gmatperfect,

OA please...