Critical Reasoning

Source: Veritas Prep

In 2009, a private school spent $200,000 on a building which housed classrooms, offices, and a library. In 2010, the school was unable to earn a profit. Therefore, the principal should be fired.

Each of the following, if true, weakens the author's conclusion EXCEPT:

(A) The principal was hired primarily for her unique ability to establish a strong sense of community, which many parents cited as a quality that kept children enrolled in the school longer.

(B) The new library also features a seating area big enough for all students to participate in cultural arts performances which the head of school intends to schedule more frequently now.

(C) The principal was hired when the construction of the new building was almost completed.

(D) A significant number of families left the school in 2010 because a favorite teacher retired.

(E) More than half of the new families who joined the school in 2010 cited the beautiful new school facility as an important factor in their selection of the school.

Experts: only Veritas Prep experts, please!

B for me

Seems B to me.
Conclusion: The principal should be fired.
weaken question, so anything giving an alternate choice for school's debacle should weaken.
B is the one that is is not impacting anything here....

I disagree with answer choice B.

B does weaken the conclusion to fire the principle, because the seating area will be good for students for the mentioned reasons.

My choice is C.

When the building was almost completed in 2009, chances are the money had been paid already. That means the 200k don't have any effect on the P&L statement of 2010.

If in 2010 the school loses money, it has nothing to do with the building but rather with the principal's lack of management skills!

I go with B

Deepthi Subbu wrote:I go with B

and I assume you have a reason for that?! Tell me!

OA is B.

Nice work guys!

Here is the official explanation:

The conclusion that the principal should be fired is weakened by all choices except (B). Answer (A) provides a criteria other than profit according to which the principal should be evaluated. Answer (C) suggests that the principal had no part in the decision to build the new building. Answer (D) suggests that the lack of revenue in 2010 resulted from a cause other than the new building expense. Answer (E) suggests that the lack of profit in 2010 may be short-term, and that revenues will continue to increase as more families are drawn by the new facility. Answer (B) is correct because it does not absolve the principal. It demonstrates a benefit of the new facility but provides no relevant information about the principal's responsibility or lack thereof for the school's financial problems.

Any Questions?

jaymw wrote:

Deepthi Subbu wrote:I go with B

and I assume you have a reason for that?! Tell me!

The reason why I dint choose C is - C says that the 'the principal was hired when the construction of the new building was almost completed.'

So this means that she is not directly related to the money that was spent on the construction and hence this weakens the conclusion that she should be fired as she is not a cause for the huge expenditure.

The answer for such questions need not necessarily strengthen the conclusion(extreme condition).

All the other choices except B speak against the principal getting fired.

Also as David said , it provides no relevant information on why she shouldnt be fired.

one more for B

I do not agree with B at all, As I understand B only talks of a large library in which the principal plans to hold regular cultural sessions...how does this indicate if the principal should be fired?

Radium -

This is an exception question. So the correct answer is the one that does not weaken. So if choice B does not weaken then it is the correct answer. So that would mean that you are right. B does not weaken so it is the answer.

Does that help?

Thanks David, Nice Nick Name...

went for D
However, after reading explanations agree with B

imonline wrote:went for D
However, after reading explanations agree with B

I was also unsure between B and D.
For option D, the teacher being retired is not something one can blame the principle for. Therefore, I was thinking could be a reason why she shouldn't get fired.
But I missed out that the school is losing money because of this event which the principle should be hold responsible for.

Tricky!

Got a CR right after a long time..!!

I went with B.