Verbal: Critical Reasoning Evaluate the Argument Flashcards
7 cards from real GMAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Verbal: Critical Reasoning Evaluate the Argument flashcards as text
A city claims its new bike-share program reduced car traffic because car counts on Main Street fell 15% after launch. Which question is most useful to evaluate this argument?
Answer: Did overall city traffic change, or did cars simply reroute to other streets?
If cars merely rerouted, total traffic was unchanged and the program gets undeserved credit.
A company argues that its wellness program cut sick days because employees who joined took fewer sick days than those who didn't. What would most help evaluate the argument?
Answer: Whether healthier employees were the ones who chose to join the program
Self-selection of already-healthy employees would explain the difference without the program causing it.
An editor argues that adding more photos increased magazine sales, since the issue with the most photos sold best. Which is most useful to evaluate this claim?
Answer: Whether that issue also had a uniquely popular cover story
A standout cover story could be the true cause of high sales, undermining the photo explanation.
A school says a new tutoring program raised test scores because scores rose the year it began. What information would best help judge this conclusion?
Answer: Whether scores were already trending upward before the program
A pre-existing upward trend would mean the rise was not caused by the program.
A manager concludes that remote work lowers productivity because output dropped the quarter remote work began. Which question best evaluates this?
Answer: Did an industry-wide demand slump occur the same quarter?
An external demand slump could fully explain the output drop independent of remote work.
A pharmacy claims a supplement boosts immunity because customers who buy it report fewer colds. What is most useful to evaluate the argument?
Answer: Whether supplement buyers also tend to exercise and eat better
Correlated healthy habits among buyers could account for the fewer colds, not the supplement.
A town argues that a new streetlight reduced crime because reported crimes near it fell. Which question would most help evaluate the claim?
Answer: Did crime simply shift to nearby unlit areas?
If crime relocated rather than dropped overall, the light did not actually reduce crime.