According to a recent school survey, the number of students who regularly attend religious services on campus has increased 50 percent from the figure 10 years ago. It must be an increased spirituality at our college that has massively reduced incidences of cheating on exams during this period.
Which of the following, if true, most significantly weakens the inference above?
Most of the students who now attend campus services do so largely for social reasons.
Spirituality can be expressed and felt without attendance at regular religious services.
Fifteen years ago, the college switched from an honor system to one involving closely monitored faculty-proctored exams.
Not all students who attend religious services regularly on campus responded to the survey.
Cheating has not been a major problem at this school in the past.
OA after discussions.
School Survey
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- niketdoshi123
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This is a cause => effect question.imskpwr wrote:According to a recent school survey, the number of students who regularly attend religious services on campus has increased 50 percent from the figure 10 years ago. It must be an increased spirituality at our college that has massively reduced incidences of cheating on exams during this period.
Which of the following, if true, most significantly weakens the inference above?
Most of the students who now attend campus services do so largely for social reasons.
Spirituality can be expressed and felt without attendance at regular religious services.
Fifteen years ago, the college switched from an honor system to one involving closely monitored faculty-proctored exams.
Not all students who attend religious services regularly on campus responded to the survey.
Cheating has not been a major problem at this school in the past.
OA after discussions.
Cause: Increased spirituality at the college.
Effect: massively reduced cheating incidences on exams.
To weaken the conclusion we need to look for a choice that suggests an alternative cause.
Option C suggests that its because of involvement of closely monitored faculty-proctored exams, the college has massively reduced incidences of cheating on exams.
- shovan85
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If 15 years ago a stringent role has been applied, then how come cheating has decreased over last 10 years (Can have a look at the passage BOLD part). IMO C cannot be the answer.niketdoshi123 wrote:This is a cause => effect question.imskpwr wrote:According to a recent school survey, the number of students who regularly attend religious services on campus has increased 50 percent from the figure 10 years ago. It must be an increased spirituality at our college that has massively reduced incidences of cheating on exams during this period.
Which of the following, if true, most significantly weakens the inference above?
Most of the students who now attend campus services do so largely for social reasons.
Spirituality can be expressed and felt without attendance at regular religious services.
Fifteen years ago, the college switched from an honor system to one involving closely monitored faculty-proctored exams.
Not all students who attend religious services regularly on campus responded to the survey.
Cheating has not been a major problem at this school in the past.
OA after discussions.
Cause: Increased spirituality at the college.
Effect: massively reduced cheating incidences on exams.
To weaken the conclusion we need to look for a choice that suggests an alternative cause.
Option C suggests that its because of involvement of closely monitored faculty-proctored exams, the college has massively reduced incidences of cheating on exams.
If the problem is Easy Respect it, if the problem is tough Attack it
- imskpwr
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So wat's your pick.shovan85 wrote:If 15 years ago a stringent role has been applied, then how come cheating has decreased over last 10 years (Can have a look at the passage BOLD part). IMO C cannot be the answer.niketdoshi123 wrote:This is a cause => effect question.imskpwr wrote:According to a recent school survey, the number of students who regularly attend religious services on campus has increased 50 percent from the figure 10 years ago. It must be an increased spirituality at our college that has massively reduced incidences of cheating on exams during this period.
Which of the following, if true, most significantly weakens the inference above?
Most of the students who now attend campus services do so largely for social reasons.
Spirituality can be expressed and felt without attendance at regular religious services.
Fifteen years ago, the college switched from an honor system to one involving closely monitored faculty-proctored exams.
Not all students who attend religious services regularly on campus responded to the survey.
Cheating has not been a major problem at this school in the past.
OA after discussions.
Cause: Increased spirituality at the college.
Effect: massively reduced cheating incidences on exams.
To weaken the conclusion we need to look for a choice that suggests an alternative cause.
Option C suggests that its because of involvement of closely monitored faculty-proctored exams, the college has massively reduced incidences of cheating on exams.
- shovan85
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Left with A and D. As far as D is concerned, NOT ALL STUDENTS - that means with data from LESS students who attend the services, gives the survey a claim saying it's decreasing the incidences of cheating! So, if the survey includes all students, that will STRENGTHEN the argument. D strengthens the Argument here. Left out is A.imskpwr wrote:According to a recent school survey, the number of students who regularly attend religious services on campus has increased 50 percent from the figure 10 years ago. It must be an increased spirituality at our college that has massively reduced incidences of cheating on exams during this period.
Which of the following, if true, most significantly weakens the inference above?
A) Most of the students who now attend campus services do so largely for social reasons.
B) Spirituality can be expressed and felt without attendance at regular religious services. ( Good that spirituality is felt but not related to the argument)
C) Fifteen years ago, the college switched from an honor system to one involving closely monitored faculty-proctored exams. (Timeline mismatch: If 15 years ago a stringent role has been applied, then how come cheating has decreased over last 10 years)
D) Not all students who attend religious services regularly on campus responded to the survey.
E) Cheating has not been a major problem at this school in the past. (Not related to the argument)
OA after discussions.
If we analyze A, Most of the students who now attend campus services do so largely for social reasons. It says Campus Services, not Religious services of the campus. There can be other services as well. So, for reduced incidences of cheating reason cannot be Spirituality.
If the problem is Easy Respect it, if the problem is tough Attack it
- imskpwr
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Not getting how A is a weakener?shovan85 wrote:Left with A and D. As far as D is concerned, NOT ALL STUDENTS - that means with data from LESS students who attend the services, gives the survey a claim saying it's decreasing the incidences of cheating! So, if the survey includes all students, that will STRENGTHEN the argument. D strengthens the Argument here. Left out is A.imskpwr wrote:According to a recent school survey, the number of students who regularly attend religious services on campus has increased 50 percent from the figure 10 years ago. It must be an increased spirituality at our college that has massively reduced incidences of cheating on exams during this period.
Which of the following, if true, most significantly weakens the inference above?
A) Most of the students who now attend campus services do so largely for social reasons.
B) Spirituality can be expressed and felt without attendance at regular religious services. ( Good that spirituality is felt but not related to the argument)
C) Fifteen years ago, the college switched from an honor system to one involving closely monitored faculty-proctored exams. (Timeline mismatch: If 15 years ago a stringent role has been applied, then how come cheating has decreased over last 10 years)
D) Not all students who attend religious services regularly on campus responded to the survey.
E) Cheating has not been a major problem at this school in the past. (Not related to the argument)
OA after discussions.
If we analyze A, Most of the students who now attend campus services do so largely for social reasons. It says Campus Services, not Religious services of the campus. There can be other services as well. So, for reduced incidences of cheating reason cannot be Spirituality.
I chose C because I had no other choice left.
- shovan85
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I understand this problem can be solved by POE. However, when you are dealing with Percentage and when you see strong words as MUST, you have to be cautious.imskpwr wrote:Not getting how A is a weakener?
I chose C because I had no other choice left.
PERCENTAGE - You do not know how many students are in the religious service. For instance there were 1000 students in Total and Religious service had 10 in it (before 10 years). Now, if the Total student strength still stays 1000, then number of students in the service will be 15. Does this number make an impact on morale of students?
MUST- As, option A says, students can be in "Campus services" - it can be various (might be a service which is about demerits of cheating in exam). So, we cannot narrow it down to only Religious Services (so as the Spirituality).
If the problem is Easy Respect it, if the problem is tough Attack it
- imskpwr
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shovan85 wrote:I understand this problem can be solved by POE. However, when you are dealing with Percentage and when you see strong words as MUST, you have to be cautious.imskpwr wrote:Not getting how A is a weakener?
I chose C because I had no other choice left.
MUST- As, option A says, students can be in "Campus services" - it can be various (might be a service which is about demerits of cheating in exam). So, we cannot narrow it down to only Religious Services (so as the Spirituality).
A) Most of the students who now attend campus services do so largely for social reasons
You are deducing that there may be MANY "services": campus services, religious services, etc.
MOST of the students who now attend campus services do so for social reasons.
so how can we ASSUME that it could be CAMPUS SERVICES for such increased "Spirituality".
- shovan85
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Yes! And also, most students attend services for social reasons, and not religious reasons, that would seriously weaken the author's argument.imskpwr wrote:shovan85 wrote:I understand this problem can be solved by POE. However, when you are dealing with Percentage and when you see strong words as MUST, you have to be cautious.imskpwr wrote:Not getting how A is a weakener?
I chose C because I had no other choice left.
MUST- As, option A says, students can be in "Campus services" - it can be various (might be a service which is about demerits of cheating in exam). So, we cannot narrow it down to only Religious Services (so as the Spirituality).
A) Most of the students who now attend campus services do so largely for social reasons
You are deducing that there may be MANY "services": campus services, religious services, etc.
MOST of the students who now attend campus services do so for social reasons.
so how can we ASSUME that it could be CAMPUS SERVICES for such increased "Spirituality".
If the problem is Easy Respect it, if the problem is tough Attack it
- umeshpatil
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Premise: Attendance for religious services INCREASED by 50% within 10 years.
Conclusion: Spirituality responsible for voidance of cheating.
Links used for conclusion:
(attend religious services)--> (gain spirituality)---> (avoid cheating)
We need to disconnect the link (not attacking the statement itself) . Option B does this. My answer: B.
Conclusion: Spirituality responsible for voidance of cheating.
Links used for conclusion:
(attend religious services)--> (gain spirituality)---> (avoid cheating)
We need to disconnect the link (not attacking the statement itself) . Option B does this. My answer: B.
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- Ludacrispat26
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C, easily. The inference is a hypothesis about the causal factor behind a decreased rate of cheating. C gives another compelling possibility as to why spirituality may not be the causal factor (i.e. because increased monitoring during exams is actually the causal factor).imskpwr wrote:According to a recent school survey, the number of students who regularly attend religious services on campus has increased 50 percent from the figure 10 years ago. It must be an increased spirituality at our college that has massively reduced incidences of cheating on exams during this period.
Which of the following, if true, most significantly weakens the inference above?
Most of the students who now attend campus services do so largely for social reasons.
Spirituality can be expressed and felt without attendance at regular religious services.
Fifteen years ago, the college switched from an honor system to one involving closely monitored faculty-proctored exams.
Not all students who attend religious services regularly on campus responded to the survey.
Cheating has not been a major problem at this school in the past.
OA after discussions.
Don't stop believin'...
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IMO - C
College shifted to proctored exams 15 years back and the benefits from that started coming and the results can be witnessed in the time-frame of 15 years.
The improvement and the change is a gradual process and not an overnight thing.
If we analyze the data of last 10 years there was significant change and improvement.
OA -? please
College shifted to proctored exams 15 years back and the benefits from that started coming and the results can be witnessed in the time-frame of 15 years.
The improvement and the change is a gradual process and not an overnight thing.
If we analyze the data of last 10 years there was significant change and improvement.
OA -? please
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In many of the posts I find that users say "OA after the discussions" , but finally they are never "clear" about it.imskpwr wrote:Not getting how A is a weakener?shovan85 wrote:Left with A and D. As far as D is concerned, NOT ALL STUDENTS - that means with data from LESS students who attend the services, gives the survey a claim saying it's decreasing the incidences of cheating! So, if the survey includes all students, that will STRENGTHEN the argument. D strengthens the Argument here. Left out is A.imskpwr wrote:According to a recent school survey, the number of students who regularly attend religious services on campus has increased 50 percent from the figure 10 years ago. It must be an increased spirituality at our college that has massively reduced incidences of cheating on exams during this period.
Which of the following, if true, most significantly weakens the inference above?
A) Most of the students who now attend campus services do so largely for social reasons.
B) Spirituality can be expressed and felt without attendance at regular religious services. ( Good that spirituality is felt but not related to the argument)
C) Fifteen years ago, the college switched from an honor system to one involving closely monitored faculty-proctored exams. (Timeline mismatch: If 15 years ago a stringent role has been applied, then how come cheating has decreased over last 10 years)
D) Not all students who attend religious services regularly on campus responded to the survey.
E) Cheating has not been a major problem at this school in the past. (Not related to the argument)
OA after discussions.
If we analyze A, Most of the students who now attend campus services do so largely for social reasons. It says Campus Services, not Religious services of the campus. There can be other services as well. So, for reduced incidences of cheating reason cannot be Spirituality.
I chose C because I had no other choice left.
Hello imskpwr, Please be clear about whether (A) is the OA or not
Thanks