Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set of locking doors at its entrance. In the town of Inverness, on the other hand, the entrances to nearly all banks are equipped with two sets of locking doors, operated by a mechanism that allows only one set of doors to be open at a time. It is clear, then, that banks in Inverness experience more robbery attempts than do those in La Rinconada, and have thus adopted the extra doors as a security measure.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?
a) Last year the number of bank robberies in La Rinconada was almost one-half greater than the corresponding figure for the previous year.
b) Inverness is known for its harsh winters, while the climate of La Rinconada is quite temperate year-round.
c) The mechanism of the double doors used by banks in Inverness allows bank security personnel to lock the doors remotely.
d) Bank robbery attempts are typically unsuccessful, and, even when the robbers do manage to escape with stolen money, the sum is usually quite small.
e) Inverness has almost twice as many police officers per capita as does La Rinconada.
Why is A) not a weakener? If the # of bank robberies in La Rin is > that in Inverness, the security is obviously out of question.
OA is B
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A: Last year the number of bank robberies in La Rinconada was almost one-half greater than the corresponding figure for the previous year.voodoo_child wrote:Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set of locking doors at its entrance. In the town of Inverness, on the other hand, the entrances to nearly all banks are equipped with two sets of locking doors, operated by a mechanism that allows only one set of doors to be open at a time. It is clear, then, that banks in Inverness experience more robbery attempts than do those in La Rinconada, and have thus adopted the extra doors as a security measure.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?
a) Last year the number of bank robberies in La Rinconada was almost one-half greater than the corresponding figure for the previous year.
b) Inverness is known for its harsh winters, while the climate of La Rinconada is quite temperate year-round.
c) The mechanism of the double doors used by banks in Inverness allows bank security personnel to lock the doors remotely.
d) Bank robbery attempts are typically unsuccessful, and, even when the robbers do manage to escape with stolen money, the sum is usually quite small.
e) Inverness has almost twice as many police officers per capita as does La Rinconada.
Why is A) not a weakener? If the # of bank robberies in La Rin is > that in Inverness, the security is obviously out of question.
Several reasons to eliminate this answer choice:
1. The ratio from one year to the next tells us nothing about the actual number. It could be that the previous year there 3 bank robberies and that last year there were 4. With so few robberies, La Rinconada would have no need for extra security, STRENGTHENING the conclusion that the double doors in Inverness are a security measure.
2. An increase in the number of bank robberies in La Rinconada tells us nothing about the level of crime in INVERNESS.
3. The assumption here is that the double doors in Inverness are linked to a greater number of robbery ATTEMPTS, not a greater number of actual ROBBERIES. Thus, the number of actual ROBBERIES is beyond the scope.
The correct answer must break the link between the DOUBLE DOORS in Inverness and a greater number of ROBBERY ATTEMPTS.
B: Inverness is known for its harsh winters, while the climate of La Rinconada is quite temperate year-round.
This answer choice gives an ALTERNATE REASON for the double doors: since one of the two doors is closed at all times, the double doors in Inverness offer protection from the HARSH WINTERS, weakening the link between the double doors and more ROBBERY ATTEMPTS.
The correct answer is B.
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Mitch,
Thanks for your reply. I am not sure why, in #3, you are saying that the number of actual robberies are out of scope. The whole point in this argument is to consider the security of the two individual cities. In my opinion, the conclusion is based on the number of robbery attempts. However, the assumption is not. The assumption is that the only reason why La R banks have a single set of door because the city experiences less robberies/robbery attempts.
I agree with your analysis of "ratios" in #1. However, I am not sure about #2 either. This is a weakener question. The fact that there are a greater number of robberies makes me believe that the level of crime is high. Not sufficient but it could be a necessary thought. Correct?
Thoughts?
Thanks for your reply. I am not sure why, in #3, you are saying that the number of actual robberies are out of scope. The whole point in this argument is to consider the security of the two individual cities. In my opinion, the conclusion is based on the number of robbery attempts. However, the assumption is not. The assumption is that the only reason why La R banks have a single set of door because the city experiences less robberies/robbery attempts.
I agree with your analysis of "ratios" in #1. However, I am not sure about #2 either. This is a weakener question. The fact that there are a greater number of robberies makes me believe that the level of crime is high. Not sufficient but it could be a necessary thought. Correct?
Thoughts?
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Can you please explain what is the assumption here and how to weaken the assumption
GMATGuruNY wrote:A: Last year the number of bank robberies in La Rinconada was almost one-half greater than the corresponding figure for the previous year.voodoo_child wrote:Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set of locking doors at its entrance. In the town of Inverness, on the other hand, the entrances to nearly all banks are equipped with two sets of locking doors, operated by a mechanism that allows only one set of doors to be open at a time. It is clear, then, that banks in Inverness experience more robbery attempts than do those in La Rinconada, and have thus adopted the extra doors as a security measure.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?
a) Last year the number of bank robberies in La Rinconada was almost one-half greater than the corresponding figure for the previous year.
b) Inverness is known for its harsh winters, while the climate of La Rinconada is quite temperate year-round.
c) The mechanism of the double doors used by banks in Inverness allows bank security personnel to lock the doors remotely.
d) Bank robbery attempts are typically unsuccessful, and, even when the robbers do manage to escape with stolen money, the sum is usually quite small.
e) Inverness has almost twice as many police officers per capita as does La Rinconada.
Why is A) not a weakener? If the # of bank robberies in La Rin is > that in Inverness, the security is obviously out of question.
Several reasons to eliminate this answer choice:
1. The ratio from one year to the next tells us nothing about the actual number. It could be that the previous year there 3 bank robberies and that last year there were 4. With so few robberies, La Rinconada would have no need for extra security, STRENGTHENING the conclusion that the double doors in Inverness are a security measure.
2. An increase in the number of bank robberies in La Rinconada tells us nothing about the level of crime in INVERNESS.
3. The assumption here is that the double doors in Inverness are linked to a greater number of robbery ATTEMPTS, not a greater number of actual ROBBERIES. Thus, the number of actual ROBBERIES is beyond the scope.
The correct answer must break the link between the DOUBLE DOORS in Inverness and a greater number of ROBBERY ATTEMPTS.
B: Inverness is known for its harsh winters, while the climate of La Rinconada is quite temperate year-round.
This answer choice gives an ALTERNATE REASON for the double doors: since one of the two doors is closed at all times, the double doors in Inverness offer protection from the HARSH WINTERS, weakening the link between the double doors and more ROBBERY ATTEMPTS.
The correct answer is B.
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Isn't it the case in this question that the author assumes the person who answers the question to know how winter season and two set of doors are linked?
Moreover, what's wrong with C? I thought C gives an alternate reason to have doors with double set of locks.
Please help me understand what am I missing.
Moreover, what's wrong with C? I thought C gives an alternate reason to have doors with double set of locks.
Please help me understand what am I missing.
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Pranay
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Mitch
I too Selected C here. Can you please explain why C is wrong here?
I too Selected C here. Can you please explain why C is wrong here?
bubbliiiiiiii wrote:Isn't it the case in this question that the author assumes the person who answers the question to know how winter season and two set of doors are linked?
Moreover, what's wrong with C? I thought C gives an alternate reason to have doors with double set of locks.
Please help me understand what am I missing.
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C: The mechanism of the double doors used by banks in Inverness allows bank SECURITY personnel to lock the doors remotely.shekhar.kataria wrote:Mitch
I too Selected C here. Can you please explain why C is wrong here?
bubbliiiiiiii wrote:Isn't it the case in this question that the author assumes the person who answers the question to know how winter season and two set of doors are linked?
Moreover, what's wrong with C? I thought C gives an alternate reason to have doors with double set of locks.
Please help me understand what am I missing.
This answer choice links the double doors to SECURITY personnel, STRENGTHENING the contention that the double doors are a SECURITY MEASURE. The correct answer must provide an ALTERNATE reason for the doors that is NOT associated with security.
"It's cold! Close the door!"
One purpose of a door is to KEEP OUT THE COLD.
B states that Inverness is known for HARSH WINTERS.
The double doors are operated by a mechanism that allows only one set of doors to be open at a time, with the result that one set will be CLOSED at all times.
No special knowledge -- just a bit of common sense -- is needed to conclude that the harsh winters provide an ALTERNATE REASON for the double doors: TO KEEP OUT THE COLD.
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i received a private message about this thread.
choice (a) just says that the number of bank robberies in la rinconada has increased since the previous year; it makes no comparison with inverness at all.
second, even if this statement were to say that la rinconada had more robberies than inverness did -- which, remember, it doesn't actually say -- your statement that "security is obviously out of [the] question" would still be unjustified.
after all, you can pretty much always find someplace that has more "x" than wherever you are -- but that clearly doesn't mean you don't have to worry about "x" where you are.
for instance, los angeles has more traffic than san jose (where i live now), but that doesn't mean i don't have to worry about traffic in san jose. etc.
first, that's not what choice (a) says.Why is A) not a weakener? If the # of bank robberies in La Rin is > that in Inverness, the security is obviously out of question.
choice (a) just says that the number of bank robberies in la rinconada has increased since the previous year; it makes no comparison with inverness at all.
second, even if this statement were to say that la rinconada had more robberies than inverness did -- which, remember, it doesn't actually say -- your statement that "security is obviously out of [the] question" would still be unjustified.
after all, you can pretty much always find someplace that has more "x" than wherever you are -- but that clearly doesn't mean you don't have to worry about "x" where you are.
for instance, los angeles has more traffic than san jose (where i live now), but that doesn't mean i don't have to worry about traffic in san jose. etc.
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well... yes!bubbliiiiiiii wrote:Isn't it the case in this question that the author assumes the person who answers the question to know how winter season and two set of doors are linked?
this is not any kind of specialized knowledge. If you understand that people like to keep frigid air out of buildings -- a common-sense notion -- that you have all the "knowledge" you need to solve this problem.
In fact, MOST strengthening and weakening problems will require some sort of common-sense connection.
remember, you are connecting outside ideas to the passage. because they are outside ideas, the connections are not going to be logically rigorous.
to cite two examples of official problems i've recently treated in tutoring sessions: (these are official guide problems, so i can't copy the text here)
* in og13 #94, you have to know that tall buildings are usually built in urban centers, and, in turn, that the price of land in urban centers is high.
* in og13 #110, you have to know that people will generally be more reluctant to do illegal or morally questionable things if they know there is a high likelihood that they'll be caught.
etc.
in fact, this is the primary reason why there are so many strengthening and weakening questions on this exam: because you CAN'T just solve them with "rules" and logically rigorous, machine-like thinking! that's the whole point.
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I have a question to the expert here that the Option C (in the below question)can be visualize from the point that LOCKING OF THE DOUBLE DOOR REMOTELY OFFERS EASINESS TO THE SECURITY PERSONNEL (an alternate reason). So it weakens the argument.
Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set of locking doors at its entrance. In the town of Inverness, on the other hand, the entrances to nearly all banks are equipped with two sets of locking doors, operated by a mechanism that allows only one set of doors to be open at a time. It is clear, then, that banks in Inverness experience more robbery attempts than do those in La Rinconada, and have thus adopted the extra doors as a security measure.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?
c) The mechanism of the double doors used by banks in Inverness allows bank security personnel to lock the doors remotely.
Each bank in the town of La Rinconada has only a single set of locking doors at its entrance. In the town of Inverness, on the other hand, the entrances to nearly all banks are equipped with two sets of locking doors, operated by a mechanism that allows only one set of doors to be open at a time. It is clear, then, that banks in Inverness experience more robbery attempts than do those in La Rinconada, and have thus adopted the extra doors as a security measure.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?
c) The mechanism of the double doors used by banks in Inverness allows bank security personnel to lock the doors remotely.
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yeah, but, no.coolmrityu wrote:I have a question to the expert here that the Option C (in the below question)can be visualize from the point that LOCKING OF THE DOUBLE DOOR REMOTELY OFFERS EASINESS TO THE SECURITY PERSONNEL (an alternate reason). So it weakens the argument.
remember, one of the primary things that's tested by these questions (strengthening/weakening/etc) is your ability to find the most likely, or most reasonable, interpretation of the given information.
here, we have an item dealing with security personnel -- i.e., people whose entire job description revolves around the idea of security. so, when you see a description of a feature allowing security personnel to do something, should you primarily interpret it in terms of ...
... convenience?
... or security?
it should be abundantly clear that it's the latter.
if you were a computer, then you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between "more reasonable" and "less reasonable" -- but you're not a computer, and that's the whole point of these questions.
for instance, consider OG12 CR #65 (= OG13 CR #64). to get that problem correct, you have to look at "They suddenly stopped producing coins in a certain year" and interpret it as "whoa, disaster in that year".
to find that explanation, you have to reject a whole bunch of other, less reasonable interpretations.
for instance -- What if I interpret that as "Maybe they stopped making coins in that year because they decided to switch to paper money?" well, maybe not impossible, but certainly less reasonable than the disaster hypothesis.
"What if all the coins made after that year were made of biodegradable materials, and have thus disintegrated in the ground?" again, yeah, but, no.
this sort of intuitive judgment is a huge part of what this exam is testing, so you need to be ready to use it.
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Thanks for the quick and crisp response RON, I got what you are trying to elucidate here. I will try to reframe my way of thinking now on wards.