Live GMAT classes with Target Test Prep start Nov 21 and Nov 22. First class free.

See classes
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.

Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 winner: Target Test Prep, #1 Test Prep

Target Test Prep was voted #1 Best Test Prep in the 2026 Newsweek Readers’ Choice™ Awards.

★★★★★5.0563 reviews
GMATLiveTeachStarts Nov 22
Josh Braslow, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Get Ready for GMAT Test Day Faster with Live Online Classes

with Josh Braslow, 20+ years in test prep

Nov 22 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Attend the first class for free
  • Every class is recorded, so you never fall behind
View classes & enroll
Limited seats availableTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeachOnDemandStart anytime
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Target Test Prep EA OnDemand

Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.

EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

with

165+ EA score guarantee
$05-day trial no automatic billing
Schedule
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 Start free 5-day trial
Limited cohort · enrollment openTrial includes full course accessTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemandStart 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
Start free 5-day trial
Read 563 reviewsTarget Test Prep

Grockit CR - 32pts - Hard

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Subscribe topic
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 208
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 3:10 pmFollowed by: 2 members
Thanked: 20 times
by hja379 » Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:07 pm
The wholesale cost of asbestos, used in the manufacture of fire-retardant asbestos shorts, has seen a significant reduction in the past year, unlike that of its substitute, raw wire mesh. Thus, while asbestos shorts stores’ retail prices have yet to fall, they will certainly do so eventually.

Question
Which of the following, if true, most weakens this argument?

Choices
A: The weaving costs for asbestos cloth rose in the past year.

B: The gross wholesale price for untreated asbestos is usually more than that of the same volume of untreated wire mesh.

C: The average store specializing in retail sale of asbestos shorts has seen its operating costs remain unchanged in the past year.

D: Retail price changes always lag behind wholesale price changes.

E: Asbestos manufacturing costs increased in the past year.

OA: A
Google "GMAT Pill"<--really helpful, worth checking out--especially for RC passages.
e-gmat SC: Never thought it would be fun learning SC.
India School Fund: Education through Innovation - A HBS start-up.
Top
Join the discussion
Source: — Critical Reasoning |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 540
Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:24 pmFollowed by: 6 members
Thanked: 37 times

by navami » Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:49 pm
A and E both looks good to go, then why OA is A?
This time no looking back!!!
Navami
Top
Join the discussion
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 979
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:38 amFollowed by: 12 members
Location: Hyderabad, India
Thanked: 49 times
GMAT Score:700

by bubbliiiiiiii » Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:03 pm
hja379 wrote:The wholesale cost of asbestos, used in the manufacture of fire-retardant asbestos shorts, has seen a significant reduction in the past year, unlike that of its substitute, raw wire mesh. Thus, while asbestos shorts stores’ retail prices have yet to fall, they will certainly do so eventually.

Question
Which of the following, if true, most weakens this argument?
Assumption: The authors only considers the cost of raw material i.e., asbestos which could affect the price of end products and ignores the costs associated in manufacture of the fire-retardant asbestos shorts

My analysis:

As pointed by navami, options A and E looks like both are strong contenders.

I was struck between them for a while but after some thought giving as to why the 'correct one' has to be better than the 'wrong one' I chose A. :)
Choice E talks about the costs associated with manufacturing of asbestos. Since we are concerned with manufacturing costs of fire-retardant asbestos shorts and not asbestos this appeared out of scope to me.
Regards,

Pranay
Top
Join the discussion
Legendary Member
Posts: 857
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 1:36 amFollowed by: 15 members
Thanked: 56 times

by AIM GMAT » Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:57 am
Agree with Pranay about the clash between A and E.
Thanks & Regards,
AIM GMAT
Top
Join the discussion
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 208
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 3:10 pmFollowed by: 2 members
Thanked: 20 times

by hja379 » Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:17 am
I wasn't very happy with the answer choice at first. But on retrospection - A is the right choice. Let me rephrase, A is not the right choice, but the best one left after elimination. Most of us got stumped between A and E. E says, the cost of manufacturing for asbestos has increased, but something else changed along the way, that caused the whole sale price of asbestos to fall. For example, it could that they discovered a new mine which caused the price of the raw material to fall. Hence E must be eliminated, leaving A as the only choice left.
Google "GMAT Pill"<--really helpful, worth checking out--especially for RC passages.
e-gmat SC: Never thought it would be fun learning SC.
India School Fund: Education through Innovation - A HBS start-up.
Top
Join the discussion
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 613
Joined: Thu Mar 22, 2007 6:17 amFollowed by: 64 members
Location: madrid
Thanked: 171 times
GMAT Score:790

by kevincanspain » Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:45 am
A is indeed the best choice and does effectively weaken the argument. The argument makes the assumption that the other costs involved in manufacturing and retailing the shorts have not risen by an equal amount, and A calls into question that assumption.
Kevin Armstrong
GMAT Instructor
Gmatclasses
Madrid
Top
Join the discussion
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 165
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:44 pm
Thanked: 8 times

by sandy217 » Thu Apr 07, 2011 1:28 am
"weaving costs for asbestos cloth"
On what grounds we say asbestos cloth is used in manufacturing asbestos shorts(i dont work in asbestos shorts manufacturing company :P).I say the cloth is absolutely irrelevant to me.
Manufacturing of asbestos looks more reasonable to the present context.

Answer should be E
Top
Join the discussion