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Academic Performance

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by Abhishek009 » Wed Nov 27, 2013 9:55 am
Struthers College has built its reputation for academic excellence largely on significant contributions from wealthy alumni who are avid fans of the school's football team. Although the team has won more national championships over the years than any other team in its division, this year it did not even win the division title, and so Struthers College can expect to see a decline in alumni contributions next year.


The above argument relies on which of the following assumptions about Struthers College?

(A) The college's reputation for academic excellence depends on the performance of its football team.
(B) Contributions from alumni are needed for the college to produce a winning football team.
(C) Some Struthers alumni contribute to the college because they enjoy seeing its football team win.
(D) The college's football team will continue its losing streak next year.
(E) As a group, the college's alumni will have at least as much discretionary money to give away next year as this year.

[spoiler]
OA: C

Why Not A[/spoiler]
Abhishek
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Source: — Critical Reasoning |

by Mike@Magoosh » Wed Nov 27, 2013 11:49 am
Abhishek009 wrote:Struthers College has built its reputation for academic excellence largely on significant contributions from wealthy alumni who are avid fans of the school's football team. Although the team has won more national championships over the years than any other team in its division, this year it did not even win the division title, and so Struthers College can expect to see a decline in alumni contributions next year.


The above argument relies on which of the following assumptions about Struthers College?

(A) The college's reputation for academic excellence depends on the performance of its football team.
(B) Contributions from alumni are needed for the college to produce a winning football team.
(C) Some Struthers alumni contribute to the college because they enjoy seeing its football team win.
(D) The college's football team will continue its losing streak next year.
(E) As a group, the college's alumni will have at least as much discretionary money to give away next year as this year.

[spoiler]
OA: C

Why Not A[/spoiler]
Dear Abhishek009,
I'm happy to help. :-)

This is an LSAT argument. You asked, "Why not (A)?" Academic excellence is a distractor in this argument. It's mentioned enigmatically in the first sentence, and then the rest of the argument, including the conclusion, does not mention it again. The conclusion is about wins on the football team and money, so the assumption has to treat those issues. The conclusion has absolutely nothing to do with academic excellence. That's why (A) is incorrect.

See this post:
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/assumption ... -the-gmat/
especially the part on the "Bridge" method.

Does all this make sense?
Mike :-)
Magoosh GMAT Instructor
https://gmat.magoosh.com/
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