School Survey

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.

niketdoshi123 wrote:

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.

This is a cause => effect question.
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 wrote:

niketdoshi123 wrote:

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.

This is a cause => effect question.
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 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.

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.

shovan85 wrote:

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.

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.

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.

imskpwr wrote:Not getting how A is a weakener?
I chose C because I had no other choice left.

shovan85 wrote:

imskpwr wrote:Not getting how A is a weakener?
I chose C because I had no other choice left.

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.

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).

imskpwr wrote:

shovan85 wrote:

imskpwr wrote:Not getting how A is a weakener?
I chose C because I had no other choice left.

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.

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".

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.

imskpwr wrote:

shovan85 wrote:

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.

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.

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.

Not getting how A is a weakener?
I chose C because I had no other choice left.