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

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
Vote for Target Test Prep, Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026
NEWSWEEK READERS’ CHOICE 2026

BIG NEWS! Target Test Prep has been nominated, and they’d love your vote!

TTP has worked incredibly hard to build the best test prep experience possible, and winning Newsweek’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Test Prep would mean a lot to them. If TTP has helped you, they’d be incredibly grateful for your vote. You can vote once each day through September 9.

Vote for TTP
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Douglas fir

Expert replies
by faraday88 » Thu Sep 06, 2012 1:36 am
The chanterelle, a type of wild mushroom, grows beneath host trees such as the Douglas fir, which provide it with necessary sugars. The underground filaments of chanterelles, which extract the sugars, in turn provide nutrients and water for their hosts. Because of this mutually beneficial relationship, harvesting the chanterelles growing beneath a Douglas fir seriously endangers the tree.
Which of the following, if true, casts the most doubt on the conclusion drawn above?
(A) The number of wild mushrooms harvested has increased in recent years.
(B) Chanterelles grow not only beneath Douglas firs but also beneath other host trees.
(C) Many types of wild mushrooms are found only in forests and cannot easily be grown elsewhere.
(D) The harvesting of wild mushrooms stimulates future growth of those mushrooms.
(E) Young Douglas fir seedlings die without the nutrients and water provided by chanterelle filaments.

Is the conclusion OK in this argument? I know that English is not my native language, but I think that the sentence is logically incorrect: "Because of this mutually beneficial relationship, harvesting the chanterelles growing beneath a Douglas fir seriously endangers the tree". It seems to me that "despite of" will be good. Can someone pls help? And also what do you think what is the OA?
Join the discussion
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

by Kasia@EconomistGMAT » Thu Sep 06, 2012 2:22 am
The conclusion is phrased correctly and "despite" would not be a good alternative to "because of."
The conclusion states that:
1. the relationship is BENEFICIAL
SO
2. harvesting the chanterelles endangers thie host (the tree).

A - out of scope, we are not interested in all wild mushrooms
B - this statement does not weaken the conclusion, it only introduces new information
C - out of scope, similarly to answer A, this statement neither weakens nor strengthens the argument
D - correct, it suggests that harvesting the chanterelles can be beneficial for them because they will grow more rapidly in the future
E - incorrect, this answer strengthens the conclusion
Kasia
Senior Instructor
Master GMAT - the #1 rated GMAT course

"¢ If you found my post helpful, please click the "thank" button and/or follow me.

"¢ Take a 7 day free trial and find out why Economist GMAT is the highest rated GMAT course - https://gmat.economist.com/

"¢ Read GMAT Economist reviews - https://reviews.beatthegmat.com/economis ... mat-course
Join the discussion

by saketlala » Thu Sep 06, 2012 2:22 am
Conclusion : Harvesting the chanterelles growing beneath a Douglas fir seriously endangers the tree.
[spoiler]IMO D
Since harvesting will stimulates future growth , Douglas fir won't be endangered [/spoiler].
Join the discussion

by faraday88 » Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:51 am
I don't understand one: if it is beneficial, why it must endanger the tree? that is why I ask why "because"?
Join the discussion

by saketlala » Thu Sep 06, 2012 4:20 am
It is beneficial and hence harvesting it will endanger
Join the discussion

by akashkumar1987 » Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:03 am
I am confused b/w D and E.The argument goes as mentioned below

Chanterelles,provide nutrients and water -> Harvest Them -> Endanger the Douglas fir

It shows a cause and effect.

Cause s Chanterelles,provide nutrients and water
Effect s Do not harvest Chanterelles as it benefits the Douglas fir

So an alternate cause will weaken the conclusion -
D - It does not weaken.If they harvest Chanterelles it grow more and will be much better for the Douglas fir.
E - Provide a New Mutual Relationship or Reason for not harvesting Chanterelles.

Please correct if the above explanation is wrong.
Join the discussion