Goto College

This topic has expert replies
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 72
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2010 2:06 am
Thanked: 2 times
Followed by:1 members

Goto College

by saurabh2525_gupta » Wed Sep 21, 2011 4:50 am
According to a recent research study, more than 90% percent of graduates of private high schools in a certain county continue their education in college. By contrast, only 65% of graduates of public high schools subsequently pursue college education. Therefore, if parents in the county wish to increase the likelihood that their children will attend college, they should send them to private rather than public schools.

Which of the following statements would most seriously weaken the argument above?

A) Graduates of private schools typically score higher on standardized tests and other tests of academic achievement.

B)While private schools are typically very expensive, attendance of public school is free for the residents of the county.

C)In comparison with graduates of private schools, a substantially greater proportion of public school graduates receive need-based financial aid for their college education.

D)In comparison with private schools, public schools provide more opportunities for student involvement in sports and other athletic activities, which almost always increase the likelihood of students' acceptance to colleges.

E)Since most public schools are located in rural areas of the county populated primarily by farmers, nearly 30% of students from public high schools choose to pursue farming occupations rather than apply to colleges.

Please help on this one!!!

JOHN
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1309
Joined: Mon Apr 04, 2011 5:34 am
Location: India
Thanked: 310 times
Followed by:123 members
GMAT Score:750

by cans » Wed Sep 21, 2011 5:01 am
https://www.beatthegmat.com/likelihood-t ... 91126.html
This link has the same question with explanation.....
If my post helped you- let me know by pushing the thanks button ;)

Contact me about long distance tutoring!
[email protected]

Cans!!

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 72
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2010 2:06 am
Thanked: 2 times
Followed by:1 members

by saurabh2525_gupta » Wed Sep 21, 2011 5:13 am
Thanks for the reply Cans. I chose D. I am not able to follow your explanation as to why is D wrong.

What I think:-
The conclusion says - sending to private schools will increase the likelihood of reaching college. In order to weaken it any choice which says that public schools have an advantage over the private ones will weaken the argument OR any choice that shows that data is misinterpreted.

E says nothing about the likelihood of sending to private will not really increase the chances of going to college.

JOHN

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 496
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 5:34 am
Thanked: 38 times
Followed by:1 members

by sl750 » Wed Sep 21, 2011 7:38 am
The argument makes a faulty correlation leads to causation argument.

That because 90% of high school students who go to private schools go on to college, parents who want their kids to go to college should send their children to private instead of public schools

We should look for another reason why students of most public school opt out of college. And choice E gives you that reason. They prefer farming to pursuing higher studies

D talks about the likelihood of acceptance. It is not a certainty that mere involvement in sports will motivate the public school student to go to college. Moreover, it doesn't explain why only a small percentage of public school students prefer to go to college