Pvt school vs Public School

[BellTheGMAT]

According to a recent research study, more than 90% percent of graduates of private high schools in a certain county continue their education in college. By contrast, only 65% of graduates of public high schools subsequently pursue college education. Therefore, if parents in the county wish to increase the likelihood that their children will attend college, they should send them to private rather than public schools.

Which of the following statements would most seriously weaken the argument above?
A - Graduates of private schools typically score higher on standardized tests and other tests of academic achievement.
B - While private schools are typically very expensive, attendance of public school is free for the residents of the county.
C - In comparison with graduates of private schools, a substantially greater proportion of public school graduates receive need-based financial aid for their college education.
D - In comparison with private schools, public schools provide more opportunities for student involvement in sports and other athletic activities, which almost always increase the likelihood of students' acceptance to colleges.
E - Since most public schools are located in rural areas of the county populated primarily by farmers, nearly 30% of students from public high schools choose to pursue farming occupations rather than apply to colleges.

OA after some discussion....
Source <Manhattan CAT>

[karanrulz4ever]

IMO E

[shovan85]

According to a recent research study, more than 90% percent of graduates of private high schools in a certain county continue their education in college. By contrast, only 65% of graduates of public high schools subsequently pursue college education. Therefore, if parents in the county wish to increase the likelihood that their children will attend college, they should send them to private rather than public schools.

Which of the following statements would most seriously weaken the argument above?

A - Graduates of private schools typically score higher on standardized tests and other tests of academic achievement.

The passage has not mentioned that "a typically higher score" is required for admission to a college.

B - While private schools are typically very expensive, attendance of public school is free for the residents of the county.

The passage has not mentioned that there are some financial constraints (expensive) among the people.

C - In comparison with graduates of private schools, a substantially greater proportion of public school graduates receive need-based financial aid for their college education.

The passage has not mentioned that there are some financial constraints (need-based financial aid) among the people.

D - In comparison with private schools, public schools provide more opportunities for student involvement in sports and other athletic activities, which almost always increase the likelihood of students' acceptance to colleges.

If public school is providing more chances of acceptance then why there is 65% only go to college? Though it does not support Private school, it is not supporting Public school either.

E - Since most public schools are located in rural areas of the county populated primarily by farmers, nearly 30% of students from public high schools choose to pursue farming occupations rather than apply to colleges.

This option says that 30% have already a path to follow instead of applying to college. As per argument if the students go to private school instead of public also, they will not apply to any colleges.

Thus

E

[BellTheGMAT]

IMO E

yes, OA is E.
As I understand, in "Weaken" question, if we can find any alternate explanation for the conclusion, then we are done with!

Here, the conclusion is - "Attending Pvt school will increase the likelihood that children will attend college". Premise are the various statistics.

So, for weakness of this conclusion, if we can find any answer that would give possible alternate reason that will increase the likelihood for children to attend college....

Can you explain, why C and D are not the answer!!! Do let me know where I am going wrong!

[David@VeritasPrep]

This is an interesting question...not so much the logic or it...but I nearly got lost in the fact that the correct answer mentions that the majority of public schools are in rural areas. I was trying to think - "which country?" I am still curious about this. I am thinking of countries with a majority of people living in rural areas, yet a country where more than 65% of all students go to college. Perhaps this is not about a real country at all.

By the way, what I have done above here is an example of what not to do!! Never get caught up in reality. Whatever happens on the GMAT stays on the GMAT!

BelltheGMAT you are correct that if the conclusion attributes cause and effect that a great way to weaken this is with an alternate cause. On the GMAT this is the preferred way. You could also do something where you show that the cause does not ALWAYS lead to the effect, like if I say that I got sick last week and I claim that it was because I ate fish you could weaken by showing me instances where I ate fish and did not get sick. But on the GMAT you ought to think about alternate causes...

On this question we see that there is a clear case of cause and effect being attributed. It states that parents wishing to see their kids attend college should send those kids to private schools. The premises are the expected statistics that show more graduates of private schools going to college. This is a very typical setup. This is something that you would want to be very prepared for on test day.

The reason that E works is that it gives a clear alternative cause. The students at the public schools are choosing not to attend college so it is not necessary for a parent to send their child to a private school, but only to have the child not go into farming! Is this a perfect answer choice? Possibly not but it is the best choice.

Answer choices C and D give you reasons why students from private schools attend college more often, but unlike choice E the reasons in C and D are tied to the actual attending of private schools. Take D for example, "In comparison with private schools, public schools provide more opportunities for student involvement in sports and other athletic activities, which almost always increase the likelihood of students acceptance to colleges." Can you see how this is not independent of attending the private school but is actually more proof that attending the private school helps get a student in to college? C is the same way.

This reminds of an LSAT question about a decrease in accidents in Australia. The question attributes the decline in accidents to improved driving skill. One incorrect answer gives as an alternative cause that driving education is now mandatory in Australia (I wonder if this is true?) Do you see that this is not an alternate cause? Drivers Education would improve the skill of the drivers so this actually strengthens and is not an alternate cause!! Sneaky??

Let me know if that helps.