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Manhattan CR - Weird answers

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Manhattan CR - Weird answers

by rishab1988 » Fri Dec 03, 2010 3:49 am
According to a recent research study, more than 90% percent of graduates of private high schools in a certain county continue their education in college. By contrast, only 65% of graduates of public high schools subsequently pursue college education. Therefore, if parents in the county wish to increase the likelihood that their children will attend college, they should send them to private rather than public schools.

Which of the following statements would most seriously weaken the argument above?

A) Graduates of private schools typically score higher on standardized tests and other tests of academic achievement.

B) While private schools are typically very expensive, attendance of public school is free for the residents of the county.

C) In comparison with graduates of private schools, a substantially greater proportion of public school graduates receive need-based financial aid for their college education.

D) In comparison with private schools, public schools provide more opportunities for student involvement in sports and other athletic activities, which almost always increase the likelihood of students' acceptance to colleges.

E) Since most public schools are located in rural areas of the county populated primarily by farmers, nearly 30% of students from public high schools choose to pursue farming occupations rather than apply to colleges.

My question is "Does real GMAT ever throw a question at you in which both answer choices weaken and then we have to decide which one strengthens more." This seems a bit absurd...
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by diebeatsthegmat » Fri Dec 03, 2010 5:36 am
rishab1988 wrote:According to a recent research study, more than 90% percent of graduates of private high schools in a certain county continue their education in college. By contrast, only 65% of graduates of public high schools subsequently pursue college education. Therefore, if parents in the county wish to increase the likelihood that their children will attend college, they should send them to private rather than public schools.

Which of the following statements would most seriously weaken the argument above?

A) Graduates of private schools typically score higher on standardized tests and other tests of academic achievement.

B) While private schools are typically very expensive, attendance of public school is free for the residents of the county.

C) In comparison with graduates of private schools, a substantially greater proportion of public school graduates receive need-based financial aid for their college education.

D) In comparison with private schools, public schools provide more opportunities for student involvement in sports and other athletic activities, which almost always increase the likelihood of students' acceptance to colleges.

E) Since most public schools are located in rural areas of the county populated primarily by farmers, nearly 30% of students from public high schools choose to pursue farming occupations rather than apply to colleges.

My question is "Does real GMAT ever throw a question at you in which both answer choices weaken and then we have to decide which one strengthens more." This seems a bit absurd...[/quote

the answer is yes becos my friend has just done the test and she said that there is a question which both answer choices strengthen and test taker has to decide which is better. so i guess the opposit might happen
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by rishab1988 » Fri Dec 03, 2010 6:08 am
diebeatsthegmat wrote:
rishab1988 wrote:According to a recent research study, more than 90% percent of graduates of private high schools in a certain county continue their education in college. By contrast, only 65% of graduates of public high schools subsequently pursue college education. Therefore, if parents in the county wish to increase the likelihood that their children will attend college, they should send them to private rather than public schools.

Which of the following statements would most seriously weaken the argument above?

A) Graduates of private schools typically score higher on standardized tests and other tests of academic achievement.

B) While private schools are typically very expensive, attendance of public school is free for the residents of the county.

C) In comparison with graduates of private schools, a substantially greater proportion of public school graduates receive need-based financial aid for their college education.

D) In comparison with private schools, public schools provide more opportunities for student involvement in sports and other athletic activities, which almost always increase the likelihood of students' acceptance to colleges.

E) Since most public schools are located in rural areas of the county populated primarily by farmers, nearly 30% of students from public high schools choose to pursue farming occupations rather than apply to colleges.

My question is "Does real GMAT ever throw a question at you in which both answer choices weaken and then we have to decide which one strengthens more." This seems a bit absurd...[/quote

the answer is yes becos my friend has just done the test and she said that there is a question which both answer choices strengthen and test taker has to decide which is better. so i guess the opposit might happen
I would rather like the experts to comment on this topic,for they are more experienced.

If you agree with your friend's reasoning,choose an answer choice and explain your reasoning for the same..
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by GMATGuruNY » Fri Dec 03, 2010 7:26 am
rishab1988 wrote:According to a recent research study, more than 90% percent of graduates of private high schools in a certain county continue their education in college. By contrast, only 65% of graduates of public high schools subsequently pursue college education. Therefore, if parents in the county wish to increase the likelihood that their children will attend college, they should send them to private rather than public schools.

Which of the following statements would most seriously weaken the argument above?
I received a PM asking me to respond.

The assumption is that public schools are inferior because a lower percentage of their graduates go to college. The correct answer will attack this assumption.

A) Graduates of private schools typically score higher on standardized tests and other tests of academic achievement. Strengthens the idea that private schools are better. Eliminate A.

B) While private schools are typically very expensive, attendance of public school is free for the residents of the county. Outside the scope. The argument is not about cost. Eliminate B.

C) In comparison with graduates of private schools, a substantially greater proportion of public school graduates receive need-based financial aid for their college education. Tells us nothing about the quality of either type of school. Eliminate C.

D) In comparison with private schools, public schools provide more opportunities for student involvement in sports and other athletic activities, which almost always increase the likelihood of students' acceptance to colleges. Tempting, but these opportunities in public schools do not in any way dispute the fact that a smaller percentage of public school grads go to college. Even with all these opportunities in public schools, a higher percentage of private school grads still go to college, so the idea that private schools are better is not weakened. Eliminate D.

E) Since most public schools are located in rural areas of the county populated primarily by farmers, nearly 30% of students from public high schools choose to pursue farming occupations rather than apply to colleges. Correct. This answer attacks the assumption that public schools are inferior: it suggests that a lower percentage of public school grads go to college not because the public schools are inferior but because the grads in rural areas are choosing not to go to college.

The correct answer is E.
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by gmatdriller » Mon Sep 10, 2012 3:38 am
The argument relies on merely comparing percentage figures:

Private 90%; Public 65%;
Therefore, it favors private schools.
E attacks the reasoning by saying that 35% of public have not been fairly considered

Can we also weaken on the basis that the author did not provide the actual figures
of both type of schools... e.g 90% of 100 < 65% 0f 1000
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by vikram4689 » Tue Sep 11, 2012 6:56 am
gmatdriller wrote:Can we also weaken on the basis that the author did not provide the actual figures
of both type of schools... e.g 90% of 100 < 65% 0f 1000
no, you cannot do this because author intentionally used the idea of % to get rid of numbers. his argument is based on likelihood and that takes away the consideration of exact numbers of students in schools because likelihood means chances for EQUAL number of students.

E says 30% people did not choose to go for college education. So effectively that means author's statistics are faulty. to calculate correctly he should consider (65/70)*100=92.85% as the likelihood.

now comparing we can see that likelihood of going to college is greater in public schools

i hope this resolves the confusion !!
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