The number of students who play for Town X's high school sports teams is greater than the number of students who play for Town Y's high school sports teams. Because of their greater participation in school athletics, the high school student population of Town X is more physically fit than that of Town Y.
Each of the following, if true, weakens the conclusion above EXCEPT:
(A) There are more high school students in Town X than in Town Y.
(B) Most high school students in Town Y go to school in Town X and play on their high schools' sports teams.
(C) High school sports teams in Town X play and practice for fewer hours per week than do high school sports teams in Town Y.
(D) Many high school athletes from Town Y play only on club teams not affiliated with any high schools.
(E) High school sports teams in Town Y accept freshman athletes, whereas high school sports teams in Town X do not.
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shovan85
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(A) There are more high school students in Town X than in Town Y.bvn wrote:The number of students who play for Town X's high school sports teams is greater than the number of students who play for Town Y's high school sports teams. Because of their greater participation in school athletics, the high school student population of Town X is more physically fit than that of Town Y.
Each of the following, if true, weakens the conclusion above EXCEPT:
Weakens: More high schools more participation
(B) Most high school students in Town Y go to school in Town X and play on their high schools' sports teams.
Weakens: Town Y students play for town X
(C) High school sports teams in Town X play and practice for fewer hours per week than do high school sports teams in Town Y.
(D) Many high school athletes from Town Y play only on club teams not affiliated with any high schools.
Weakens: Town Y athletes are not playing for the high schools.
(E) High school sports teams in Town Y accept freshman athletes, whereas high school sports teams in Town X do not.
I am extremely confused between C and E. However, in Option C if we consider that Town X is less practicing than Town Y then how can we conclude that they are more Fit.
Thus, I believe E does not weaken the conclusion. This option states just a criterion how the athlete is being selected. We cannot say if the freshman is Fit or not.
IMO E
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missionGMAT007
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rkanthilal
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IMO E. However, I believe that C could also be considered correct.
P1: The number of students who play for Town X's high school sports teams is greater than the number of students who play for Town Y's high school sports teams.
C1: The high school student population of Town X is more physically fit than that of Town Y.
This is a very short argument with a weak conclusion. The conclusion is that the high school student population of Town X is more physically fit than that of Town Y. This is based on the single fact that Town X's high school sports teams have more students than Town Y's high school sports teams.
Each of the following, if true, weakens the conclusion above EXCEPT:
Four answers weaken the conclusion and one answer will not weaken the conclusion. The conclusion is based on the fact that there are more student athletes on Town X's high school teams than on Town Y's high school teams. Any answer that demonstrates an alternative reason for why Town X has more high school athletes will weaken the conclusion. We need to pick an answer that strengthens the conclusion or an answer that has no effect on the conclusion.
(A) "There are more high school students in Town X than in Town Y." Incorrect. This answer gives an alternative reason for Town X having more student athletes than Town Y. The reason is that Town X has a higher population.
(B) "Most high school students in Town Y go to school in Town X and play on their high schools' sports teams." Incorrect. This answer states that most Town Y students play on Town X sports teams. This is another possible reason for Town X having more athletes than Town Y.
(C) "High school sports teams in Town X play and practice for fewer hours per week than do high school sports teams in Town Y." Incorrect. I don't see how this answer weakens the conclusion. It implies that Town X's students are less physically fit because they don't practice as much. This may be true but there is no way for us to know. I think this answer is irrelevant and therefore it has no effect on the conclusion.
(D) "Many high school athletes from Town Y play only on club teams not affiliated with any high schools." Incorrect. This answer gives a reason for why Town Y has fewer student athletes on its high school teams. Students in Town Y play on teams not associated with their high school.
(E) "High school sports teams in Town Y accept freshman athletes, whereas high school sports teams in Town X do not." Correct. This answer states that Town Y's high schools accept freshman athletes while Town X's high schools do not. This answer choice strengthens the conclusion. The conclusion is based on the fact that Town X has more student athletes than Town Y.
This answer demonstrates that even without accepting freshman athletes Town X has more student athletes than Town Y. This fact supports the conclusion that the high school student population of Town X is more physically fit than that of Town Y.
P1: The number of students who play for Town X's high school sports teams is greater than the number of students who play for Town Y's high school sports teams.
C1: The high school student population of Town X is more physically fit than that of Town Y.
This is a very short argument with a weak conclusion. The conclusion is that the high school student population of Town X is more physically fit than that of Town Y. This is based on the single fact that Town X's high school sports teams have more students than Town Y's high school sports teams.
Each of the following, if true, weakens the conclusion above EXCEPT:
Four answers weaken the conclusion and one answer will not weaken the conclusion. The conclusion is based on the fact that there are more student athletes on Town X's high school teams than on Town Y's high school teams. Any answer that demonstrates an alternative reason for why Town X has more high school athletes will weaken the conclusion. We need to pick an answer that strengthens the conclusion or an answer that has no effect on the conclusion.
(A) "There are more high school students in Town X than in Town Y." Incorrect. This answer gives an alternative reason for Town X having more student athletes than Town Y. The reason is that Town X has a higher population.
(B) "Most high school students in Town Y go to school in Town X and play on their high schools' sports teams." Incorrect. This answer states that most Town Y students play on Town X sports teams. This is another possible reason for Town X having more athletes than Town Y.
(C) "High school sports teams in Town X play and practice for fewer hours per week than do high school sports teams in Town Y." Incorrect. I don't see how this answer weakens the conclusion. It implies that Town X's students are less physically fit because they don't practice as much. This may be true but there is no way for us to know. I think this answer is irrelevant and therefore it has no effect on the conclusion.
(D) "Many high school athletes from Town Y play only on club teams not affiliated with any high schools." Incorrect. This answer gives a reason for why Town Y has fewer student athletes on its high school teams. Students in Town Y play on teams not associated with their high school.
(E) "High school sports teams in Town Y accept freshman athletes, whereas high school sports teams in Town X do not." Correct. This answer states that Town Y's high schools accept freshman athletes while Town X's high schools do not. This answer choice strengthens the conclusion. The conclusion is based on the fact that Town X has more student athletes than Town Y.
This answer demonstrates that even without accepting freshman athletes Town X has more student athletes than Town Y. This fact supports the conclusion that the high school student population of Town X is more physically fit than that of Town Y.
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kapur.arnav
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I will go with E too...shovan85 wrote:(A) There are more high school students in Town X than in Town Y.bvn wrote:The number of students who play for Town X's high school sports teams is greater than the number of students who play for Town Y's high school sports teams. Because of their greater participation in school athletics, the high school student population of Town X is more physically fit than that of Town Y.
Each of the following, if true, weakens the conclusion above EXCEPT:
Weakens: More high schools more participation
(B) Most high school students in Town Y go to school in Town X and play on their high schools' sports teams.
Weakens: Town Y students play for town X
(C) High school sports teams in Town X play and practice for fewer hours per week than do high school sports teams in Town Y.
(D) Many high school athletes from Town Y play only on club teams not affiliated with any high schools.
Weakens: Town Y athletes are not playing for the high schools.
(E) High school sports teams in Town Y accept freshman athletes, whereas high school sports teams in Town X do not.
I am extremely confused between C and E. However, in Option C if we consider that Town X is less practicing than Town Y then how can we conclude that they are more Fit.
Thus, I believe E does not weaken the conclusion. This option states just a criterion how the athlete is being selected. We cannot say if the freshman is Fit or not.
IMO E
