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.

★★★★★5.0563 reviews
Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 winner: Target Test Prep, #1 Test Prep
NEWSWEEK READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2026

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

GMATLiveTeach Starts Oct 17
Chris Peckover, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Get Ready for GMAT Test Day Faster with Live Online Classes

with Chris Peckover, 100th-Percentile GMAT Scorer

Oct 17 · Chris Peckover
Sat · 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM ET
Oct 20 · Chris Peckover
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Oct 25 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 1:00 to 4:00 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
EALiveTeachOnDemand 5 seats left Start anytime
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Target Test Prep EA OnDemand

Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.

Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

165+ EA score guarantee
$05-day trial no automatic billing
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 Start free 5-day trial
Limited cohort · enrollment openTrial includes full course accessTarget 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.

Harbor Seals- weaken

Expert replies
by kanha81 » Tue May 19, 2009 7:45 pm
A 20 percent decline in lobster catches in Maine waters since 1980 can be justifiably blamed on legislation passed in 1972 to protect harbor seals. Maine’s population of harbor seals is now double the level existing before production was initiated, and these seals are known to eat both fish and lobsters.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?

(A) Harbor seals usually eat more fish than lobsters, but the seals are natural predators of both

(B) Although harbor seals are skillful predators of lobsters, they rarely finish eating their catch.

(C) Harbor seals attract tourists to Maine’s coastal areas, thus revitalizing the local economy.

(D) Authors of the 1972 legislation protecting harbor seals were convinced that an increase in that animal’s numbers would not have a measurably negative impact on the lobster catch.

(E) The record lobster harvests of the late 1970’s removed large numbers of mature lobsters from the reproductive stock

Explain your answers.
Want to Beat GMAT.
Always do what you're afraid to do. Whoooop GMAT
Join the discussion
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

Re: Harbor Seals- weaken

by vinaynp » Tue May 19, 2009 8:12 pm
kanha81 wrote:A 20 percent decline in lobster catches in Maine waters since 1980 can be justifiably blamed on legislation passed in 1972 to protect harbor seals. Maine’s population of harbor seals is now double the level existing before production was initiated, and these seals are known to eat both fish and lobsters.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?

(A) Harbor seals usually eat more fish than lobsters, but the seals are natural predators of both

(B) Although harbor seals are skillful predators of lobsters, they rarely finish eating their catch.

(C) Harbor seals attract tourists to Maine’s coastal areas, thus revitalizing the local economy.

(D) Authors of the 1972 legislation protecting harbor seals were convinced that an increase in that animal’s numbers would not have a measurably negative impact on the lobster catch.

(E) The record lobster harvests of the late 1970’s removed large numbers of mature lobsters from the reproductive stock

Explain your answers.
We would like to establish that lobsters decline is not related to increase in harbor seals population. This would undermine the argument.

A) Supporting information. It does not weaken.
B) Out of scope.
C) Out of scope.
D) Underestimation by legislators doesn't apply here.

E) The lobsters decline is related to record lobster harvests.

IMO E OA please.
Join the discussion

Re: Harbor Seals- weaken

by amazonviper » Wed May 20, 2009 6:51 pm
kanha81 wrote:A 20 percent decline in lobster catches in Maine waters since 1980 can be justifiably blamed on legislation passed in 1972 to protect harbor seals. Maine’s population of harbor seals is now double the level existing before production was initiated, and these seals are known to eat both fish and lobsters.

Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?

(A) Harbor seals usually eat more fish than lobsters, but the seals are natural predators of both

(B) Although harbor seals are skillful predators of lobsters, they rarely finish eating their catch.

(C) Harbor seals attract tourists to Maine’s coastal areas, thus revitalizing the local economy.

(D) Authors of the 1972 legislation protecting harbor seals were convinced that an increase in that animal’s numbers would not have a measurably negative impact on the lobster catch.

(E) The record lobster harvests of the late 1970’s removed large numbers of mature lobsters from the reproductive stock

Explain your answers.

(A) Harbor seals usually eat more fish than lobsters, but the seals are natural predators of both-> "usually" is word to watch out for. Hence the Seals "can" eat more lobsters then fish on several occasions too.Does not weaken the argument.

(B) Although harbor seals are skillful predators of lobsters, they rarely finish eating their catch.--> Out of relevance. We are not concerned about whether the seals finish the meal or not . Does not weaken or strengthen.

(C) Harbor seals attract tourists to Maine’s coastal areas, thus revitalizing the local economy.-> Out of relevance. Does not weaken or strengthen.


(D) Authors of the 1972 legislation protecting harbor seals were convinced that an increase in that animal’s numbers would not have a measurably negative impact on the lobster catch.-->We are not concerned about what the legislature "felt".

(E) The record lobster harvests of the late 1970’s removed large numbers of mature lobsters from the reproductive stock.->If this were turbo then we have not Mature lobsters to reproduce and hence they will not increase in number. This explains the decrease in the quantity of catch. Take in to account the years in the passage. The record catches was in the late 70's and the 20% reduction is in the 1980. It makes sense.If this were true then the legislation had nothing to do with the decrease in catch.
So, My choice would be "E". Please let me know the OA.
Join the discussion

by rahulg83 » Wed May 20, 2009 7:11 pm
Oa is E
Join the discussion

by gmat740 » Wed May 20, 2009 7:12 pm
E provides an alternate option for the reason why Lobster population decline,so E is the correct answer.
Join the discussion

by mason77 » Sun May 15, 2016 2:10 pm
C seems to be the best choice
Join the discussion