analyse the structure

This topic has expert replies
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 185
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 3:06 am
Thanked: 6 times

analyse the structure

by gmatnmein2010 » Tue Feb 09, 2010 3:06 am
Like a number of other articles, Ian Raghnalls article relied on a recent survey in which over half the couples applying for divorces listed money as a major problem in their marriages. Raghnalls conclusion from the survey data is that financial problems are the major problem in marriages and an important factor contributing to high divorce rate. Yet couples often express other types of marital frustrations in financial terms. Despite appearances, the survey data do not establish that financial problems are the major problem in contemporary marriages.

Q. In the passage, the author does which one of the following?

A. undermines a conclusion drawn from statistical data by offering a specific counterexample

B. undermines a conclusion drawn from statistical data by offering an alternative explanation for some of the data

C. undermines a conclusion drawn from statistical data by showing that one cannot prove the presence of an emotion by using statistical methods

D. undermines a conclusion drawn from statistical data by criticizing the survey for which the data was gathered

E. undermines a conclusion by showing that couples cannot accurately describe their own problems
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1560
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:38 am
Thanked: 137 times
Followed by:5 members

by thephoenix » Tue Feb 09, 2010 3:45 am
imo b

THE AUTHOR FIRST CONCLUDES THAT :according to Raghnalls article financial problems are the major problem in marriages and an important factor contributing to high divorce rate
then author presents a counter statement couples often express other types of marital frustrations in financial terms and hence undermines the conlusion drawn from statistical data by offering an alternative explanation for some of the data .....

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 173
Joined: Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:18 pm
Location: Hyderabad
Thanked: 12 times

by vijay_venky » Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:13 am
Often in the stimulus is the pick here.

1. So this is addressing some of the data ad not necessarily the whole bunch.
2. And the author is definitely undermining the argument.

We should look for the option which is a combination of 1 and 2.

A- No specific counter example is provided by the author.
B- precisely the option.
C- no mention of emotion has been mentioned in the passage.
D- author never criticized the survey.
E- It is a generic statement which addresses the whole bunch of the people surveyed, so wrong.

My pick B

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 777
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 2010 4:02 am
Location: Mumbai, India
Thanked: 117 times
Followed by:47 members

by komal » Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:25 am
gmatnmein2010 wrote:Like a number of other articles, Ian Raghnalls article relied on a recent survey in which over half the couples applying for divorces listed money as a major problem in their marriages. Raghnalls conclusion from the survey data is that financial problems are the major problem in marriages and an important factor contributing to high divorce rate. Yet couples often express other types of marital frustrations in financial terms. Despite appearances, the survey data do not establish that financial problems are the major problem in contemporary marriages.

Q. In the passage, the author does which one of the following?

A. undermines a conclusion drawn from statistical data by offering a specific counterexample

B. undermines a conclusion drawn from statistical data by offering an alternative explanation for some of the data

C. undermines a conclusion drawn from statistical data by showing that one cannot prove the presence of an emotion by using statistical methods

D. undermines a conclusion drawn from statistical data by criticizing the survey for which the data was gathered

E. undermines a conclusion by showing that couples cannot accurately describe their own problems
Ian Raghnalls Conclusion :
Cause - Financial problems
Effect - Major Problem in marriages

Author's Conclusion :
Cause - Not Financial problems (something else)
Effect - Major Problem in marriages


We can see that the author undermines the conclusion by showing an alternative cause for the stated effect. Hence Answer choice (B) wins.