Ozone Layer problem - Must be true question - Most v/s many

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The importance of the ozone layer to terrestrial animals is that it entirely filters out some of the wavelengths of light but lets others through. Holes in the ozone layer and the dangers associated with these holes are well documented. However, one danger that has not been given sufficient attention is that these holes could lead to severe eye damage for animals of many species.

Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the statements above, if they are true?

a) All wavelengths of sunlight that can cause eye damage are filtered out by the ozone layer where it is intact.
b) Few species of animals live on a part of the earth's surface that is not threatened by holes in the ozone layer.
c) Some species of the animals have eyes that will not suffer any damage when exposed to unfiltered sunlight.
d) A single wavelength of sunlight can cause severe damage to the eyes of most species of animals.
e) Some wavelengths of sunlight that cause eye damage are more likely to reach the earth's surface where there are holes in the ozone layer than where there are not.


This is a MUST BE TRUE question, where we are required to select an answer choice that can be proved from the stimulus.

The last line of the stimulus says "many species" but the answer choice D says "most species of animals"


Please explain the difference between these two.

Thanks in advance,
JOHN
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by bblast » Wed Aug 17, 2011 6:50 am
Hi, The problem with D is the first part of the answer choice.

It has been distorted to say that -a single wavelength of light- can damage the eyes of most species of animals.

This is not what the stem says- the stem is arguing that the holes in the ozone are letting dangerous waves through.

back to your question :
The last line of the stimulus says "many species" but the answer choice D says "most species of animals"



Many species in a general context could mean 10/50 or even 45/50; however most would always mean more than half of a given sample.

I have tasted many different kinds of wine - This does not mean I have tasted all wines in the world.

I have mastered most of the tricks of boxing-This would mean that I know 9/10 moves in boxing.


I hope I am correct with the theory on Many and most. :shock:
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by XLogic » Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:23 am
saurabh2525_gupta wrote: This is a MUST BE TRUE question, where we are required to select an answer choice that can be proved from the stimulus.

The last line of the stimulus says "many species" but the answer choice D says "most species of animals"

I try to make a distinction between "Must be true" and "Most supported by" questions.
The first requires the correct answer to be 100% true based on the CR passage. The second will usually require less than 100% support, e.g. 60% support.
> This question is of the latter kind.

BTW, what's the OA on this one?
IMO E
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by saurabh2525_gupta » Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:37 am
XLogic wrote:
saurabh2525_gupta wrote: This is a MUST BE TRUE question, where we are required to select an answer choice that can be proved from the stimulus.

The last line of the stimulus says "many species" but the answer choice D says "most species of animals"

I try to make a distinction between "Must be true" and "Most supported by" questions.
The first requires the correct answer to be 100% true based on the CR passage. The second will usually require less than 100% support, e.g. 60% support.
> This question is of the latter kind.

BTW, what's the OA on this one?
IMO E
The correct answer is E

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by saurabh2525_gupta » Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:44 am
bblast wrote: Many species in a general context could mean 10/50 or even 45/50; however most would always mean more than half of a given sample.

I have tasted many different kinds of wine - This does not mean I have tasted all wines in the world.
Let there be total 10 kinds of wines, so many means I have tasted 1,2,3,4....9 kinds of wines but not all.

I have mastered most of the tricks of boxing-This would mean that I know 9/10 moves in boxing.
Let there be total 10 tricks, so most means I have mastered 6,7,8,9 kinds of tricks but not all.
Thank you for replying. Please find my questions inline

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by saurabh2525_gupta » Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:55 am
I found this on the post of one of the GMAT instructors.

"All" means 100%, but is conditional.

"Most" means more than 50%.

"Many" is an unspecified % and could just mean 1.

"Some" means "at least one".


Hope is helps,

Thanks
JOHN

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by bblast » Thu Aug 18, 2011 10:55 am
Note that many can mean what u have speculated, it can be 4/10 or 9/10, it does not necessarily signify a major proportion of the sample.



Most will always be more than 1/2 {more importantly it means majority/major proportion in CR-land}
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