BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

CR: Arg Weakening Problem

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 51
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 2:34 am
Thanked: 2 times

CR: Arg Weakening Problem

by nishant1309 » Sun Oct 09, 2011 8:22 am
Whenever a major airplane accident occurs, there is a dramatic increase in the number of airplane mishaps reported, a phenomenon that may last for as long as a few months after the accident. Airline officials assert that the publicity given the gruesomeness of major airplane accidents focuses media attention on the airline industry and the increase in the number of reported accidents is caused by an increase in the number of news sources covering airline accident, not by an increase in the number of accidents.
Which of the following, if true, would seriously weaken the assertions of the airline officials?

(A) The publicity surrounding airline accidents is largely limited to the country in which the crash occurred.
(B) Airline accidents tend to occur far more often during certain peak travel months.
(C) News organizations do not have any guidelines to help them decide how severe or how close an accident must be for it to receive coverage.
(D) Airplane accidents receive coverage by news sources only when the news sources find it advantageous to do so.
(E) Studies by government regulations show that the number of airplane flight miles remains relatively constant from month to month.

OA after some reasonable explanations.
Top
Source: — Critical Reasoning |
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 114
Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:35 am
Location: TASHKENT
Thanked: 8 times
Followed by:2 members
GMAT Score:640

by hoji » Sun Oct 09, 2011 1:52 pm
IMHO:B


cause and effect:

airline officials=> more media coverage -> more reported accidents

B shows an alternative cause for the effect: actually during certain period, airplane crashes occur more frequently.
I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of a man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.
Henry David Thoreau.

Sleep GMAT, eat GMAT, beat GMAT!
______________________________
Quant ----> 51
Verbal----> 44+
GMAT ----> 750+
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 279
Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2010 5:43 pm
Thanked: 15 times
Followed by:1 members

by mehrasa » Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:28 pm
IMO: B
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 124
Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:07 am
Thanked: 21 times
Followed by:14 members
GMAT Score:750

by CappyAA » Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:17 am
This is definitely a tough question with confusing answers but I'm going to also have to say B. We are looking for something that weakens the claim that more media coverage leads to more reported accidents. We can weaken the claim by either finding something that directly contradicts this claim or by finding an alternative explanation. The tougher weaken questions very often have these alternative explanations.

B gives us the explanation that accidents tend to happen during peak travel months. Even if you assume the rate of mishaps remains the same, the number will still inevitably be higher during these peak travel months. That's another explanation instead of the increased number due to the media.
Taking the GMAT Again...PhD this time!

October 2008 Score: GMAT - 750 (50 Q, 41 V) :D

Manhattan GMAT 1 - 11/20/11 - 750 (50 Q, 42 V)
Manhattan GMAT 2 - 12/3/11 - 780 (51 Q, 45 V)
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 22
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:19 am

by boltu_gmat » Mon Oct 10, 2011 9:35 am
B ..
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 51
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 2:34 am
Thanked: 2 times

by nishant1309 » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:19 am
Please explain what negates option C? It can be inferred that new sources cover the the stories related to accident irrespective of the nature of the accident i.e. sever or near miss.That means actually accidents have increased.
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 627
Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:12 am
Thanked: 4 times
Followed by:1 members

by mankey » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:24 am
To me it looks, B. Please provide OA.

Thanks
Mankey
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:10 pm

by Proleefeek111 » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:48 am
nishant1309 wrote:Please explain what negates option C? It can be inferred that new sources cover the the stories related to accident irrespective of the nature of the accident i.e. sever or near miss.That means actually accidents have increased.
Hi Nishant,

In opt C it says there are no guidelines to report incidents which could mean that severe issues may go unreported and/or trivial issues could be flooding the nespapers. So we cannot be certain that not having any pre-defined guidelines equates to increased coverage of aeroplane accidents, and thus increased incidents as well.
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 2789
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:19 am
Location: Chennai, India
Thanked: 206 times
Followed by:43 members
GMAT Score:640

by GmatKiss » Mon Oct 10, 2011 11:06 am
A is close, B the winner!
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 51
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 2:34 am
Thanked: 2 times

by nishant1309 » Tue Oct 11, 2011 4:59 am
@ Proleefeek111: Actually i comprehended it other way round...since there is no guideline>>new is reported irrespective of severity i.e. each and every accident bigger/smaller or a near miss is reported >> accidents have actually increased.
Proleefeek111 wrote:
nishant1309 wrote:Please explain what negates option C? It can be inferred that new sources cover the the stories related to accident irrespective of the nature of the accident i.e. sever or near miss.That means actually accidents have increased.
Hi Nishant,

In opt C it says there are no guidelines to report incidents which could mean that severe issues may go unreported and/or trivial issues could be flooding the nespapers. So we cannot be certain that not having any pre-defined guidelines equates to increased coverage of aeroplane accidents, and thus increased incidents as well.
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 51
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 2:34 am
Thanked: 2 times

by nishant1309 » Tue Oct 11, 2011 5:00 am
Thanks for your explanations folks!

[spoiler]OA: B[/spoiler]
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1