GMAT - Graduate Management Admission Verbal: Strengthen/Weaken Arguments Questions and Answers

Question 1

A study found that people who regularly drink at least one cup of green tea daily have a lower incidence of heart disease than people who do not.
The study's authors concluded that the compounds in green tea are directly responsible for a reduced risk of heart disease.

Accepted Answer

Individuals who regularly drink green tea are also significantly more likely to engage in other healthy lifestyle behaviors, such as regular exercise and a balanced diet.

Answer

The study was funded by a consortium of green tea producers.

Answer

The beneficial effects were more pronounced in participants who drank three or more cups of green tea per day.

Answer

The study only included participants between the ages of 40 and 60.

Question 2

The city of Northwood has experienced a significant increase in traffic congestion. To combat this, the city council proposes implementing a congestion pricing system, charging drivers a fee to enter the downtown area during peak hours. The council argues this plan will be effective in reducing the number of cars downtown and alleviating congestion.

Accepted Answer

In a neighboring city with a similar demographic and economic profile, the implementation of a congestion pricing system last year led to a 30% reduction in peak-hour traffic.

Answer

A recent survey showed that a majority of Northwood residents are opposed to any new fees or taxes.

Answer

Many businesses in the downtown area have expressed concern that the fee will deter customers.

Answer

The revenue generated from the congestion fee will be used to improve the city's public transportation system.

Question 3

The CEO of software company TechFirm argues that the company must transition to a fully remote work model to increase profitability. The CEO's primary justification is that eliminating office space will lead to significant cost savings from rent and utilities.

Accepted Answer

Studies of companies in the same industry that transitioned to fully remote work showed a consistent and significant drop in employee productivity and collaborative innovation.

Answer

A survey of TechFirm employees indicated that 70% would prefer a hybrid model over a fully remote one.

Answer

TechFirm's closest competitor recently renewed the lease on its large downtown office for ten years.

Answer

The company will have to invest in new security software and provide stipends for home office setups for its employees.

Question 4

A wildlife biologist observes that the population of the arctic fox in a specific region has declined sharply. The biologist hypothesizes that the cause is a recent and unusually severe crash in the population of lemmings, the fox's primary food source.

Accepted Answer

The populations of other predators in the region that also rely heavily on lemmings, such as the snowy owl, have also experienced a sharp decline.

Answer

Unusually harsh weather conditions, including record-low temperatures and heavy snowfall, were recorded in the region over the past year.

Answer

The arctic fox population in a distant region, where lemmings are not the primary food source, has remained stable.

Answer

Genetic analysis of the remaining fox population shows a significant lack of diversity, which can inhibit long-term survival.

Question 5

A university administrator claims that the university's new mandatory "Financial Literacy for Undergraduates" course has been a success. As evidence, the administrator cites a survey showing that students who completed the course reported feeling more confident about managing their personal finances than students who had not yet taken it.

Accepted Answer

The survey was administered to students immediately after they completed the course, before they had any practical experience applying the concepts learned.

Answer

The course is taught by professors from the university's prestigious business school.

Answer

Students who reported having prior knowledge of financial concepts from their parents rated the course as "too basic."

Answer

Several other universities in the region have recently implemented similar mandatory financial literacy courses.

Question 6

A manufacturer of high-end, durable office furniture has seen its sales decline over the past two years. The company's management concludes that this decline is solely due to increased competition from new companies offering cheaper, lower-quality furniture.

Accepted Answer

Several of the company's most experienced and award-winning product designers left the company just over two years ago.

Answer

The overall market for all office furniture, including high-end and low-end, has grown in the last two years.

Answer

The company recently increased its marketing budget, focusing on digital advertising campaigns.

Answer

An independent industry-wide survey showed that businesses are increasingly prioritizing long-term durability and ergonomics over initial cost when purchasing office furniture.

A study found that people who regularly drink at least one cup of green tea daily have a lower incidence of heart disease than people who do not.The study's authors concluded that the compounds in green tea are directly responsible for a reduced risk of heart disease.

A study found that people who regularly drink at least one cup of green tea daily have a lower incidence of heart disease than people who do not.
The study's authors concluded that the compounds in green tea are directly responsible for a reduced risk of heart disease.