Live GMAT classes with Target Test Prep start Nov 21 and Nov 22. First class free.

See classes
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.

Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 winner: Target Test Prep, #1 Test Prep

Target Test Prep was voted #1 Best Test Prep in the 2026 Newsweek Readers’ Choice™ Awards.

★★★★★5.0563 reviews
GMATLiveTeachStarts Nov 22
Josh Braslow, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Get Ready for GMAT Test Day Faster with Live Online Classes

with Josh Braslow, 20+ years in test prep

Nov 22 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Attend the first class for free
  • Every class is recorded, so you never fall behind
View classes & enroll
Limited seats availableTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeachOnDemandStart anytime
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Target Test Prep EA OnDemand

Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.

EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

with

165+ EA score guarantee
$05-day trial no automatic billing
Schedule
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 Start free 5-day trial
Limited cohort · enrollment openTrial includes full course accessTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemandStart 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

Tough CR

Expert replies
by dhonu121 » Sat May 26, 2012 8:04 am
Studies have shown that an automobile that runs on a blend of 85%
ethanol/15% gasoline gets better mileage than an otherwise similar car
equipped with a gasoline engine. Many American legislators have concluded
that an increase in tax incentives for ethanol production would lessen our
dependence on foreign oil. Which of the following, if true, casts the most
doubt upon the validity of the legislators’ conclusion?
• It takes 1.5 gallons of oil to produce 1 gallon of ethanol.
• Electric cars are cheaper to operate than cars running on the ethanol fuel
mix.
• It costs thousands of dollars to retrofit an automobile to run on the ethanol
fuel mix.
• The ethanol/gasoline blend emits more pollution that regular gasoline.
• The ethanol/gasoline blend has not been widely adopted in Europe.

OA:A
My problem with this question.
I like A.
But I also like B,C and D.
I do not understand how can we negate choices B,C and D.
E can be negated because it goes tangentially to the argument.
B->If electric cars are cheaper than people who already have electric cars will not convert to ethanol-mix driven cars. Here no demand,hence no supply, hence no affect of government regulations.
C->If it costs so much too much to convert, why would anybody convert, Hence no demand would generate hence no affect of government regulations.
D->If it emits more pollution, then it thretens the environment and hence it would not be a preferred choice to use ethanol mix. Hence no matter what government does, it there is no demand, there is no sale hence no use of providing tax incntives.

In such problems, its becomes so difficult to figure out the best choice, as so many of them are weakening the argument.
Can anybody tell how to nail such problems ?


Thanks so much in advance.
If you've liked my post, let me know by pressing the thanks button.
Join the discussion
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

by ice_rush » Sat May 26, 2012 10:03 am
In such problems (and in general), just stick to the conclusion and you'd be fine.

Conclusion: An increase in tax incentives for ethanol production would lessen our
dependence on foreign oil.

so we are looking for an answer choice that would show otherwise i.e. ethanol production would lead to dependency/increased dependency on foreign oil or something similar in nature.

only choice (A) does that.


hope this helps.
Join the discussion

by jimmyjimmy » Sat May 26, 2012 8:15 pm
search for the answer which says that ( no buddy legislators, your dependence on foreign countries is not gonna reduce)
Join the discussion