CR Head Twisters

This topic has expert replies
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 54
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 5:17 am
Thanked: 2 times

CR Head Twisters

by gdk800 » Fri Oct 22, 2010 10:34 am
1) At present Satellex Radio provides only music stations. However, many Satellex subscribers listen to talk radio stations as well, and they would prefer that Satellex offered talk radio as well. Moreover, subscribers to radio services that provide talk radio usually subscribe for longer periods of time than those who subscribe to music-only services. Therefore, if Satellex added talk radio stations, its profiÂ…ts would increase.

The argument is vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it gives reason to believe that it is likely that

(A) SatellexÂ’s large subscriber base would appeal to talk radio hosts, making it easy for Satellex to hire quality talent for its talk radio stations.
(B) Most talk radio hosts broadcast on advertiser-supported radio stations that listeners can access without paying a subscription fee.
(C) SatellexÂ’s costs would rise by adding several talk-radio stations, while many of the listeners who want talk radio are already Satellex subscribers.
(D) Talk radio listeners generally spend more time on a single radio station than do listeners to music radio.
(E) If Satellex added talk radio stations, many of SatellexÂ’s music radio hosts would switch to talk-radio stations, making the music stations less appealing.



2) Zuksha International Airport was once the busiest airport in the region, but two major airlines have relocated to nearby airports, reducing the number of fl‡ights in and out of Zuksha by more than half. The gates at Zuksha were built more than thirty years ago and cannot accommodate the largest modern aircraft. In an effort to bring in more business, Zuksha officials plan to build dozens of gates to accommodate modern aircraft and offer reduced-rate leases to airlines willing to make long-term commitments.

Which of the following, if true, most threatens the planÂ’s likelihood of success?

(A) Most of the airlines operating out of nearby airports have long-term leases on gates at the other airports.
(B) The existing gates at Zuksha rent at rates that are, on average, much lower than the proposed rates for the new gates to be built there.
(C) Because of highway congestion and changing development patterns that make Zuksha inconvenient to access, airline customers prefer to depart from other airports.
(D) Of the 18 airlines that serve Zuksha or nearby airports, none serve more than one airport in the area.
(E) If the proposed addition is completed, Zuksha will be the largest airport, as measured both by gates and square footage, in the region.
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

User avatar
Community Manager
Posts: 991
Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2010 6:19 am
Location: Bangalore, India
Thanked: 146 times
Followed by:24 members

by shovan85 » Fri Oct 22, 2010 11:22 am
1. IMO C
2. IMO A
If the problem is Easy Respect it, if the problem is tough Attack it

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 174
Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 3:41 pm
Thanked: 6 times
Followed by:1 members

by sanabk » Fri Oct 22, 2010 11:47 am
1) A
2) Confused between A and C. Picked A as it talks about long-term leases.

Legendary Member
Posts: 1119
Joined: Fri May 07, 2010 8:50 am
Thanked: 29 times
Followed by:3 members

by diebeatsthegmat » Fri Oct 22, 2010 11:57 pm
gdk800 wrote:1) At present Satellex Radio provides only music stations. However, many Satellex subscribers listen to talk radio stations as well, and they would prefer that Satellex offered talk radio as well. Moreover, subscribers to radio services that provide talk radio usually subscribe for longer periods of time than those who subscribe to music-only services. Therefore, if Satellex added talk radio stations, its profiÂ…ts would increase.

The argument is vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it gives reason to believe that it is likely that

(A) SatellexÂ’s large subscriber base would appeal to talk radio hosts, making it easy for Satellex to hire quality talent for its talk radio stations.
(B) Most talk radio hosts broadcast on advertiser-supported radio stations that listeners can access without paying a subscription fee.
(C) SatellexÂ’s costs would rise by adding several talk-radio stations, while many of the listeners who want talk radio are already Satellex subscribers.
(D) Talk radio listeners generally spend more time on a single radio station than do listeners to music radio.
(E) If Satellex added talk radio stations, many of SatellexÂ’s music radio hosts would switch to talk-radio stations, making the music stations less appealing.



2) Zuksha International Airport was once the busiest airport in the region, but two major airlines have relocated to nearby airports, reducing the number of fl‡ights in and out of Zuksha by more than half. The gates at Zuksha were built more than thirty years ago and cannot accommodate the largest modern aircraft. In an effort to bring in more business, Zuksha officials plan to build dozens of gates to accommodate modern aircraft and offer reduced-rate leases to airlines willing to make long-term commitments.

Which of the following, if true, most threatens the planÂ’s likelihood of success?

(A) Most of the airlines operating out of nearby airports have long-term leases on gates at the other airports.
(B) The existing gates at Zuksha rent at rates that are, on average, much lower than the proposed rates for the new gates to be built there.
(C) Because of highway congestion and changing development patterns that make Zuksha inconvenient to access, airline customers prefer to depart from other airports.
(D) Of the 18 airlines that serve Zuksha or nearby airports, none serve more than one airport in the area.
(E) If the proposed addition is completed, Zuksha will be the largest airport, as measured both by gates and square footage, in the region.
1. B
2. C
whats the answer?

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 201
Joined: Sat Jul 10, 2010 2:23 pm
Thanked: 7 times
Followed by:1 members

by ov25 » Sun Oct 24, 2010 6:50 am
1. C and D appeal the most. C is better, already subscribers (less new revenues) + costs -> burden on profits; D says ppl less likely switch but since S's listens have asked for it so there is intrinsic demand involved. E it would be hard to be drawn to believe E is likely to happen with what is given in the stimulus

2. C - if we can prove that the cause for airlines that shifted lies with something else other than the airport itself, then we would surely weaken it. C does it -- congestion thru the city for customers to get thru rather than that the airport itself is congested.

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 37
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 12:24 pm

by manjus_mailme » Sun Oct 24, 2010 8:29 am
I chose B for the first one and B for the second one too.gdk800 please let me know what is the correct answer.

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 905
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 1:38 am
Thanked: 378 times
Followed by:123 members
GMAT Score:760

by Geva@EconomistGMAT » Mon Oct 25, 2010 2:34 am
gdk800 wrote:1) At present Satellex Radio provides only music stations. However, many Satellex subscribers listen to talk radio stations as well, and they would prefer that Satellex offered talk radio as well. Moreover, subscribers to radio services that provide talk radio usually subscribe for longer periods of time than those who subscribe to music-only services. Therefore, if Satellex added talk radio stations, its profiÂ…ts would increase.

The argument is vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it gives reason to believe that it is likely that

(A) SatellexÂ’s large subscriber base would appeal to talk radio hosts, making it easy for Satellex to hire quality talent for its talk radio stations.
(B) Most talk radio hosts broadcast on advertiser-supported radio stations that listeners can access without paying a subscription fee.
(C) SatellexÂ’s costs would rise by adding several talk-radio stations, while many of the listeners who want talk radio are already Satellex subscribers.
(D) Talk radio listeners generally spend more time on a single radio station than do listeners to music radio.
(E) If Satellex added talk radio stations, many of SatellexÂ’s music radio hosts would switch to talk-radio stations, making the music stations less appealing.
this problem plays on the three part formula profits = revenues-expenses.
When first reading the argument, I found that the premises are that there is a demand for radio talk shows, which I presumed meant that Satellex can increase its revenues. The conclusion (profits will increase) immediately hit me as too far fetched, as the argument ignores the third part of the formula - the expenses. In order to reach the conclusion that the move will be profitable, the argument must assume that the costs involved are smaller than the added revenues. Many GMAT questions play on this, and it's important to recognize this dynamic - the "leap" form revenues to profits, which ignores expenses.
Since the question stem basically asks which of the following would weaken the argument, I was looking for something like C - something that points out the costs ignored by the argument. C did take me slightly by surprise by indicating that even teh revenues side may not increase, since a large part of the target audience is already a subscriber, but that actually makes C an even stronger weakening of the argument - if Satellex increases costs, but does not generate new revenues, then the whole move is even less likely to be profitable. I believe C is the answer.

B is a dangerous answer choice, because it does weaken the conclusion - it indicates that even were Satellex to go ahead with the move, it would face stiff competition from other networks offering the service for free. My problem with B is that it violates the second part of the question stem: that it gives reason to believe that it is likely that. This part limits what we're looking for to a weakening statement suggested by the argument's premises, not just any weakening point out of Scope. B, while indeed a weakening point for the conclusion, is an additional premise that is outside the scope of the argument, as nowhere in the argument does it give reason to believe that other stations offer the same service for free, whereas C can be inferred from the premises given in the argument itself.
Geva
Senior Instructor
Master GMAT
1-888-780-GMAT
https://www.mastergmat.com

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 905
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 1:38 am
Thanked: 378 times
Followed by:123 members
GMAT Score:760

by Geva@EconomistGMAT » Mon Oct 25, 2010 2:45 am
gdk800 wrote:
2) Zuksha International Airport was once the busiest airport in the region, but two major airlines have relocated to nearby airports, reducing the number of fl‡ights in and out of Zuksha by more than half. The gates at Zuksha were built more than thirty years ago and cannot accommodate the largest modern aircraft. In an effort to bring in more business, Zuksha officials plan to build dozens of gates to accommodate modern aircraft and offer reduced-rate leases to airlines willing to make long-term commitments.

Which of the following, if true, most threatens the planÂ’s likelihood of success?

(A) Most of the airlines operating out of nearby airports have long-term leases on gates at the other airports.
(B) The existing gates at Zuksha rent at rates that are, on average, much lower than the proposed rates for the new gates to be built there.
(C) Because of highway congestion and changing development patterns that make Zuksha inconvenient to access, airline customers prefer to depart from other airports.
(D) Of the 18 airlines that serve Zuksha or nearby airports, none serve more than one airport in the area.
(E) If the proposed addition is completed, Zuksha will be the largest airport, as measured both by gates and square footage, in the region.
A and C are the only truly weakening answer choices here, and I believe that the answer is C. The plan to build new gates for modern aircraft and offer reduced prices assumes that these are the only two factors in an airline's decision for airport - whether it can land its Airbus 300A there, and how much it would cost to do so. C offers an additional consideration - if the customers won't go the airport, then the ability to land a modern craft at reduced gate prices is simply not appealing enough, so all the new gates and reduced prices will be in vain.
A is limited to airlines already operating out of nearby airports, which means that it's a less weakening answer choice: Even if we discount the possible option to lure airlines from their long term agreements with the airports reduced rates (we simply don't have enough info to know if this is possible, but it might be), the plan can still succeed because an improved airport may lure new airlines not already operating in the region. Thus, A, while indeed posing a problem, does not mean that the new plan will not succeed, and is not as strong as C.
Geva
Senior Instructor
Master GMAT
1-888-780-GMAT
https://www.mastergmat.com

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 54
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 5:17 am
Thanked: 2 times

by gdk800 » Mon Oct 25, 2010 6:30 am
Hello Everyone, sorry for my late reply.

Firstly let me thank everyone for replying. A special thanks to Geva for the detailed explanations.
Official Answer to both questions is indeed C.

But i have two more questions.

For Satellex radio problem, option E says: If Satellex added talk radio stations, many of Satellex's music radio hosts would switch to talk-radio stations, making the music stations less appealing.

****After many of music-radio hosts shift to Talk-radio station, the music station which is the existing line of business for Satellex would be hit. Won't that be a loss in revenue for the radio? The radio is trying to increase subscriber base by moving into Talk stations but when the existing subscriber listening to music stations would reduce, it would hit the radio's revenue thus this option should also weaken the argument.




*****Further a question for the second problem. If in case of Zuksha, the airlines decide to park and operate their air-crafts from the newly renovated airport, the customer would have to come there to catch the flight even after bearing the congestion and undergoing some inconvenience.




Please clarify these too.

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 905
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 1:38 am
Thanked: 378 times
Followed by:123 members
GMAT Score:760

by Geva@EconomistGMAT » Mon Oct 25, 2010 6:49 am
gdk800 wrote:Hello Everyone, sorry for my late reply.

Firstly let me thank everyone for replying. A special thanks to Geva for the detailed explanations.
Official Answer to both questions is indeed C.

But i have two more questions.

For Satellex radio problem, option E says: If Satellex added talk radio stations, many of Satellex's music radio hosts would switch to talk-radio stations, making the music stations less appealing.

****After many of music-radio hosts shift to Talk-radio station, the music station which is the existing line of business for Satellex would be hit. Won't that be a loss in revenue for the radio? The radio is trying to increase subscriber base by moving into Talk stations but when the existing subscriber listening to music stations would reduce, it would hit the radio's revenue thus this option should also weaken the argument.

For one, we have no indication that the revenues would actually be hit - Satellex would just be transferring customers from one pocket to another. Second, even were we to accept that E is indeed a weakening point for the plan, this answer choice still makes the same mistake as B - it relies on outside information not implied by the argument itself, as requested by the question stem. This is not a regular weaken question - other weaken questions may use outside information to weaken the conclusion, but this one specifically asks for something implied by the argument itself. And finally, E still does not attack the argument's main assumption - in other words, it does not play on the profits, revenues, expenses factor.



*****Further a question for the second problem. If in case of Zuksha, the airlines decide to park and operate their air-crafts from the newly renovated airport, the customer would have to come there to catch the flight even after bearing the congestion and undergoing some inconvenience.

True, but would the airlines want to force their potential customers to go through traffic? When the argument clearly indicates that there are alternatives around the airport? This is the role of the detail mentioning the two airlines who had moved to another airport - to show that there are alternatives with some proximity to Zuksha airport. If an airline insists on setting shop in the middle of a traffic jam, its customers can apparently find alternative booking among airlines in other airports around Zuksha - Zuksha is not the only airport around, and the airline will simply lose business to its competitors. With this threat in mind, the new gates and low rate are again less appealing.




Please clarify these too.
Geva
Senior Instructor
Master GMAT
1-888-780-GMAT
https://www.mastergmat.com