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.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
Vote for Target Test Prep, Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026
NEWSWEEK READERS’ CHOICE 2026

BIG NEWS! Target Test Prep has been nominated, and they’d love your vote!

TTP has worked incredibly hard to build the best test prep experience possible, and winning Newsweek’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Test Prep would mean a lot to them. If TTP has helped you, they’d be incredibly grateful for your vote. You can vote once each day through September 9.

Vote for TTP
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

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
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget 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
Start free 5-day trial
Read 559 reviewsTarget Test Prep

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Planetary Systems - confusing CR

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 18
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:23 pm
by GMIHIR » Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:04 pm
When a planetary system forms, the chances that a planet capable of supporting life will be formed are high. The chances that a large planet the size of Jupiter or Saturn will be formed, however, are low. Without Jupiter and Saturn, whose gravitational forces have prevented Earth from being frequently struck by large comets, intelligent life would never have arisen on Earth. Since planetary systems are unlikely to contain any large planets, the chances that intelligent life will emerge on a planet are, therefore, low.
Knowing which one of the following would be most useful in evaluating the argument?
(A) whether all planetary system are formed from similar amounts of matter
(B) whether intelligent species would be likely to survive if a comet struck their planet
(C) whether large comets could be deflected by only one large planet rather than be two
(D) how high the chances are that planetary systems will contain many large comets
(E) how likely it is that planetary systems containing large planets will also contain planets the size of Earth

Can anyone please explain and confirm what the OA is? Thanks.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Critical Reasoning |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1239
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:25 amFollowed by: 26 members
Thanked: 233 times
GMAT Score:680

by sam2304 » Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:17 pm
When a planetary system forms - high chances of planet supporting life forms and low chances of large planets. Large planets save planets with life forms by attracting large comets. Since large planet formation is low, life forms emerging on a planet is low.

A - irrelevant
B - question of survival - not necessary now
C - no of large planets is irrelevant
D - This seems fine. If the chances are high then life forms emerging on a planet is low, if it is very low then life forms emerging on a planet is high.
E - Irrelevant.

The underlying assumption is if formation of large planet is low then large comets will frequently hit the small planets preventing the emergence of life forms. So we got to find how frequently the small planets will be hit by comets

IMO D.
Getting defeated is just a temporary notion, giving it up is what makes it permanent.
https://gmatandbeyond.blogspot.in/
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 581
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2011 7:53 amFollowed by: 5 members
Thanked: 52 times

by killer1387 » Thu Apr 19, 2012 12:16 am
will go with sam

would like to make a point regarding
option B: whether intelligent species would be likely to survive if a comet struck their planet

this option is already addressed in the argument which says"the frequency is decreased" and hence they are surviving somehow in spite of some attacks.
so B is incorrect.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 342
Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:50 amFollowed by: 19 members
Thanked: 214 times
GMAT Score:740

by Birottam Dutta » Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:32 am
The argument here is that large plants are required to enable life on small planets by preventing comets from hitting the small planets.

In all the options, D is the best choice because D asks how many comets will be found in the planetary systems. This information is required to evaluate the argument.

A is out of context
B is close but here as mentioned above the answer is implicitly provided in the passage itself.
C and E are irrelevant.

Hence, D!
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 15539
Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pmFollowed by: 1906 members
Location: New York, NY
Thanked: 13060 times
GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Thu Apr 19, 2012 7:47 am
GMIHIR wrote:When a planetary system forms, the chances that a planet capable of supporting life will be formed are high. The chances that a large planet the size of Jupiter or Saturn will be formed, however, are low. Without Jupiter and Saturn, whose gravitational forces have prevented Earth from being frequently struck by large comets, intelligent life would never have arisen on Earth. Since planetary systems are unlikely to contain any large planets, the chances that intelligent life will emerge on a planet are, therefore, low.
Knowing which one of the following would be most useful in evaluating the argument?
(A) whether all planetary system are formed from similar amounts of matter
(B) whether intelligent species would be likely to survive if a comet struck their planet
(C) whether large comets could be deflected by only one large planet rather than be two
(D) how high the chances are that planetary systems will contain many large comets
(E) how likely it is that planetary systems containing large planets will also contain planets the size of Earth

Can anyone please explain and confirm what the OA is? Thanks.
This passage makes a common assumption: TRUE FOR ONE = TRUE FOR ALL.
The premise is about the EARTH: Without Jupiter and Saturn, whose gravitational forces have prevented Earth from being frequently struck by large comets, intelligent life would never have arisen on Earth.
The conclusion is about OTHER PLANETS: Since planetary systems are unlikely to contain any large planets, the chances that intelligent life will emerge on a planet are, therefore, low.
The assumption is that ALL PLANETS with intelligent life need to be protected from large comets.

Only answer choice D would help us determine the validity of this assumption: how high the chances are that planetary systems will contain many large comets.

The correct answer is D.

Answer choice B is out of scope. Whereas B discusses what is needed for intelligent life to SURVIVE, the passage draws a conclusion about what is needed for intelligent life to EMERGE -- a very different concept.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 74
Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:11 pm
Thanked: 3 times

by klmehta03 » Thu Apr 19, 2012 1:40 pm
Hi Mitch,
Nice explanation. I was down to D or E. I chose E can you please explain why E is incorrect?
Thanks in advance
K
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 502
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:36 pmFollowed by: 21 members
Thanked: 99 times

by vk_vinayak » Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:06 pm
Hi,

According to the passage, for intelligence life to emerge on a planet, the planet must be protected from frequent collisions from comets. The size of the planet is immaterial for an intelligent life to emerge on a planet. Hence E is not correct.
- VK

I will (Learn. Recognize. Apply)
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1