is samuel a bad fisherman?

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chaya009: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 59; Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:11 pm; Location: United States; Thanked: 4 times

by chaya009 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:14 pm

Samuel is obviously a bad fisherman. During the past season, in which he and the five members of his team spent four months on a boat together off Dutch Harbor, AK, he caught fewer fish than any of his teammates.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?

A) Two seasons ago, Samuel fished on another boat off Dutch Harbor and caught more fish than any other member of that boat
B) Before becoming a fisherman, Samuel piloted a fishing boat whose members regularly caught record numbers of fish.
C) While fishing this past season, Samuel fell sick for a week and did not catch any fish during this time.
D) Unlike the other fishermen on his boat, at the order of the captain, Samuel fished this past season with experimental bait.
E) Amongst the fishing community in Dutch Harbor, Samuel has a reputation for being an especially bad fisherman

OA later

Source: Beat The GMAT — Critical Reasoning | Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:14 pm

thephoenix: Legendary Member; Posts: 1560; Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:38 amFollowed by: 5 members; Thanked: 137 times

by thephoenix » Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:22 pm

chaya009 wrote:Samuel is obviously a bad fisherman. During the past season, in which he and the five members of his team spent four months on a boat together off Dutch Harbor, AK, he caught fewer fish than any of his teammates.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?

A) Two seasons ago, Samuel fished on another boat off Dutch Harbor and caught more fish than any other member of that boat
B) Before becoming a fisherman, Samuel piloted a fishing boat whose members regularly caught record numbers of fish.
C) While fishing this past season, Samuel fell sick for a week and did not catch any fish during this time.
D) Unlike the other fishermen on his boat, at the order of the captain, Samuel fished this past season with experimental bait.
E) Amongst the fishing community in Dutch Harbor, Samuel has a reputation for being an especially bad fisherman

OA later

IMO D
conclusion : Samuel is obviously a bad fisherman

reason:he caught fewer fish than any of his teammates,During the past season

to weaken this we need to give another valid reason for his poor performance

D says he was given experimental bait ( for which no bdy knows wat will be the outcome) ; hence all other had an upper hand over samuel , so concluding samuel is bad fisherman is unfair ,hence it weakens the argument

sars72: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 241; Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:10 pmFollowed by: 2 members; Location: Chennai; Thanked: 23 times; GMAT Score:690

by sars72 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:42 pm

A) Two seasons ago, Samuel fished on another boat off Dutch Harbor and caught more fish than any other member of that boat

another boat and is compared to other members (who could be bad or good). doesn't tell us anything. Eliminated!

B) Before becoming a fisherman, Samuel piloted a fishing boat whose members regularly caught record numbers of fish.

piloted a fishing boat. Out of scope. Eliminated!

C) While fishing this past season, Samuel fell sick for a week and did not catch any fish during this time.

hmm... he was sick and didn't catch any fish for a week. The conclusin that "he is a bad fisherman" is based on the fact that the caught fewer fish. So, this does weaken the argument.

D) Unlike the other fishermen on his boat, at the order of the captain, Samuel fished this past season with experimental bait.

Expirimental bait could have positive or negative results. So, while this does add some doubt, it doesn't have as strong a case as choice C.

E) Amongst the fishing community in Dutch Harbor, Samuel has a reputation for being an especially bad fisherman

amongst ppl in dutch harbour... reputation. All irrelevant. Eliminated!

So, IMO, answer is

C

chaya009: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 59; Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:11 pm; Location: United States; Thanked: 4 times

by chaya009 » Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:44 pm

The OA is D.

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