GMAT Exam  >  GMAT Questions  >  Years ago, some in the government's intel... Start Learning for Free
Years ago, some in the government's intelligence community feared the work of telecommunications researchers at then-emerging private security firms. The government experts concluded that these private firms posed the biggest risk to successful government espionage. As the private security firms began publicly releasing and advertising encryption algorithms and other security products, these government experts saw support for their conclusion when an encryption algorithm that government experts could not break began appearing in countless emails.
Q. Which of the following, if true, most weakens the conclusion of the government experts referred to above?
  • a)
    Shortly before the government experts reached their conclusions, two private security companies each claimed to have developed "the world's strongest email encryption algorithm"
  • b)
    The private security firms' decision to advertise their products and sell them publicly led to other members of the private sector and academia scrutinizing the encryption algorithms.
  • c)
    An open-source encryption algorithm, developed by an academic and freely available from popular websites, is recognized by numerous ex-government code breakers as the most unbreakable algorithm ever developed.
  • d)
    An enemy government recently succeeded in placing a spy within the government espionage operations referred to above.
  • e)
    To strengthen the reputation of the private security firms, employees of these firms publish information about the strength of their products and the benefits of using them.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Years ago, some in the government's intelligence community feared ...
The government experts concluded that "private firms posed the biggest risk to successful government espionage" and they supported this conclusion by assuming that the unbreakable encryption algorithm in emails came from the private security firms, which had just begun selling encryption algorithms. In order to weaken the conclusion of the government experts, you need to find evidence supporting the belief that the unbreakable algorithm did not come from the private security firms but from another source (such as free open-source developers).
A. This answer strengthens the conclusion of the government experts by bolstering the claim that the products developed by the private security firms were very difficult to break→and this was the fear of some government experts.
This answer does not state that the "other members of the private sector and academia" broke the encryption algorithm and we cannot assume this. If this were true, the algorithm would not be as strong as the government experts suspected and it would almost certainly not be "encryption algorithm that government experts could not break."
B. This answer undermines the government experts' conclusion that the private security firms posed "the biggest risk" as ex-government code breakers admitted that a public-sector open-source freely-available product posed the most difficulty in breaking.
C. This answer is not relevant since a foreign government's ability to infiltrate an espionage operation is not related to the conclusion that the difficulty experienced in breaking email encryption occurred because of products released by private telecommunications companies. Further, this answer provides no basis to conclude or even assume that the private security firms were not the source of the unbreakable algorithm.
D. The publication of information about the strength and benefit of the privately-developed encryption algorithms would not disprove that private security firms were behind the difficult to break email encryption algorithm experienced by the government.
View all questions of this test
Most Upvoted Answer
Years ago, some in the government's intelligence community feared ...


Analysis:

Weakness in the Conclusion:

- The conclusion of the government experts was that private security firms posed the biggest risk to successful government espionage.
- The reasoning behind this conclusion was that the private firms were releasing and advertising encryption algorithms that the government experts could not break.

Explanation of Option C:

- Option C weakens the conclusion by introducing the existence of an open-source encryption algorithm developed by an academic and freely available.
- This algorithm is recognized by numerous ex-government code breakers as the most unbreakable algorithm ever developed.
- The presence of such a strong encryption algorithm in the public domain, outside the control of private security firms, suggests that the risk posed by these firms may not be as significant as initially thought.
- If there are other encryption algorithms available that are even more secure and not associated with private security firms, then the focus on these firms as the biggest risk to government espionage may be misplaced.
Attention GMAT Students!
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed GMAT study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in GMAT.
Explore Courses for GMAT exam

Similar GMAT Doubts

Email from Marketing Director to Marketing Researcher on October 4, 2011.As you know, our revenue growth rate has declined for the past three quarters. To address this, I suggest that we initiate a massive advertising buy. On three separate occasions, in 1978, 1987, and 1993, we have responded to falling revenues by increasing our advertising expenditures by 30%. On all three occasions, within one quarter, our revenues began to increase again. Therefore, if we increase the number of advertisements targeted at our top consumers by 30%, we will once again increase our revenues.Since our top consumers are females aged 15 − 25, compile a list of the top two television programs watched by that group. Also research the prices for a 30-second commercial for each television program.Email from Marketing Researcher to Marketing Director on October 10, 2011.We’ve hit a slight complication in our research. While we’ve had no problem determining the top two programs and advertising prices for each, we’ve realized that there is a fair amount of overlap between the viewers of the two programs. We’ve found that 80% of the audience for Hart Attack also watches Blonde Fury.I’ll send you the chart summarizing the audience size and advertising prices tomorrow.MEMORANDUMTO: Marketing DirectorFROM: Marketing ResearcherDATE:October 11, 2011RE: Market Research ResultsThe attached chart presents the results from our research on the top 2television programs for Females aged 15-25.Q.Consider each of the following statements. Does the information in thememo and the table support the inference as stated?Females aged 15-25 make up the majority of thecompany’s customers.

Email from Marketing Director to Marketing Researcher on October 4, 2011.As you know, our revenue growth rate has declined for the past three quarters. To address this, I suggest that we initiate a massive advertising buy. On three separate occasions, in 1978, 1987, and 1993, we have responded to falling revenues by increasing our advertising expenditures by 30%. On all three occasions, within one quarter, our revenues began to increase again. Therefore, if we increase the number of advertisements targeted at our top consumers by 30%, we will once again increase our revenues.Since our top consumers are females aged 15 − 25, compile a list of the top two television programs watched by that group. Also research the prices for a 30-second commercial for each television program.Email from Marketing Researcher to Marketing Director on October 10, 2011.We’ve hit a slight complication in our research. While we’ve had no problem determining the top two programs and advertising prices for each, we’ve realized that there is a fair amount of overlap between the viewers of the two programs. We’ve found that 80% of the audience for Hart Attack also watches Blonde Fury.I’ll send you the chart summarizing the audience size and advertising prices tomorrow.MEMORANDUMTO: Marketing DirectorFROM: Marketing ResearcherDATE:October 11, 2011RE: Market Research ResultsThe attached chart presents the results from our research on the top 2television programs for Females aged 15-25.Q.Consider each of the following statements. Does the information in thememo and the table support the inference as stated?More females aged 15-25 watch Blonde Fury than do anyother group.

Email from Marketing Director to Marketing Researcher on October 4, 2011.As you know, our revenue growth rate has declined for the past three quarters. To address this, I suggest that we initiate a massive advertising buy. On three separate occasions, in 1978, 1987, and 1993, we have responded to falling revenues by increasing our advertising expenditures by 30%. On all three occasions, within one quarter, our revenues began to increase again. Therefore, if we increase the number of advertisements targeted at our top consumers by 30%, we will once again increase our revenues.Since our top consumers are females aged 15 − 25, compile a list of the top two television programs watched by that group. Also research the prices for a 30-second commercial for each television program.Email from Marketing Researcher to Marketing Director on October 10, 2011.We’ve hit a slight complication in our research. While we’ve had no problem determining the top two programs and advertising prices for each, we’ve realized that there is a fair amount of overlap between the viewers of the two programs. We’ve found that 80% of the audience for Hart Attack also watches Blonde Fury.I’ll send you the chart summarizing the audience size and advertising prices tomorrow.MEMORANDUMTO: Marketing DirectorFROM: Marketing ResearcherDATE:October 11, 2011RE: Market Research ResultsThe attached chart presents the results from our research on the top 2television programs for Females aged 15-25.Q.Consider each of the following statements. Based upon the informationcontained in the two emails and the memoranda, determine whether eachstatement is an assumption made by the Marketing Director.It is possible for a strategy that succeeded in the past tosucceed again.

Email from Marketing Director to Marketing Researcher on October 4, 2011.As you know, our revenue growth rate has declined for the past three quarters. To address this, I suggest that we initiate a massive advertising buy. On three separate occasions, in 1978, 1987, and 1993, we have responded to falling revenues by increasing our advertising expenditures by 30%. On all three occasions, within one quarter, our revenues began to increase again. Therefore, if we increase the number of advertisements targeted at our top consumers by 30%, we will once again increase our revenues.Since our top consumers are females aged 15 − 25, compile a list of the top two television programs watched by that group. Also research the prices for a 30-second commercial for each television program.Email from Marketing Researcher to Marketing Director on October 10, 2011.We’ve hit a slight complication in our research. While we’ve had no problem determining the top two programs and advertising prices for each, we’ve realized that there is a fair amount of overlap between the viewers of the two programs. We’ve found that 80% of the audience for Hart Attack also watches Blonde Fury.I’ll send you the chart summarizing the audience size and advertising prices tomorrow.MEMORANDUMTO: Marketing DirectorFROM: Marketing ResearcherDATE:October 11, 2011RE: Market Research ResultsThe attached chart presents the results from our research on the top 2television programs for Females aged 15-25.Q. If there are 20,000,000 females aged 15-25, then how many females aged15-25 (in millions) watch neither Blonde Fury nor Hart Attack?

Top Courses for GMAT

Years ago, some in the government's intelligence community feared the work of telecommunications researchers at then-emerging private security firms. The government experts concluded that these private firms posed the biggest risk to successful government espionage. As the private security firms began publicly releasing and advertising encryption algorithms and other security products, these government experts saw support for their conclusion when an encryption algorithm that government experts could not break began appearing in countless emails.Q. Which of the following, if true, most weakens the conclusion of the government experts referred to above?a)Shortly before the government experts reached their conclusions, two private security companies each claimed to have developed "the world's strongest email encryption algorithm"b)The private security firms' decision to advertise their products and sell them publicly led to other members of the private sector and academia scrutinizing the encryption algorithms.c)An open-source encryption algorithm, developed by an academic and freely available from popular websites, is recognized by numerous ex-government code breakers as the most unbreakable algorithm ever developed.d)An enemy government recently succeeded in placing a spy within the government espionage operations referred to above.e)To strengthen the reputation of the private security firms, employees of these firms publish information about the strength of their products and the benefits of using them.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
Years ago, some in the government's intelligence community feared the work of telecommunications researchers at then-emerging private security firms. The government experts concluded that these private firms posed the biggest risk to successful government espionage. As the private security firms began publicly releasing and advertising encryption algorithms and other security products, these government experts saw support for their conclusion when an encryption algorithm that government experts could not break began appearing in countless emails.Q. Which of the following, if true, most weakens the conclusion of the government experts referred to above?a)Shortly before the government experts reached their conclusions, two private security companies each claimed to have developed "the world's strongest email encryption algorithm"b)The private security firms' decision to advertise their products and sell them publicly led to other members of the private sector and academia scrutinizing the encryption algorithms.c)An open-source encryption algorithm, developed by an academic and freely available from popular websites, is recognized by numerous ex-government code breakers as the most unbreakable algorithm ever developed.d)An enemy government recently succeeded in placing a spy within the government espionage operations referred to above.e)To strengthen the reputation of the private security firms, employees of these firms publish information about the strength of their products and the benefits of using them.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? for GMAT 2024 is part of GMAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the GMAT exam syllabus. Information about Years ago, some in the government's intelligence community feared the work of telecommunications researchers at then-emerging private security firms. The government experts concluded that these private firms posed the biggest risk to successful government espionage. As the private security firms began publicly releasing and advertising encryption algorithms and other security products, these government experts saw support for their conclusion when an encryption algorithm that government experts could not break began appearing in countless emails.Q. Which of the following, if true, most weakens the conclusion of the government experts referred to above?a)Shortly before the government experts reached their conclusions, two private security companies each claimed to have developed "the world's strongest email encryption algorithm"b)The private security firms' decision to advertise their products and sell them publicly led to other members of the private sector and academia scrutinizing the encryption algorithms.c)An open-source encryption algorithm, developed by an academic and freely available from popular websites, is recognized by numerous ex-government code breakers as the most unbreakable algorithm ever developed.d)An enemy government recently succeeded in placing a spy within the government espionage operations referred to above.e)To strengthen the reputation of the private security firms, employees of these firms publish information about the strength of their products and the benefits of using them.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Years ago, some in the government's intelligence community feared the work of telecommunications researchers at then-emerging private security firms. The government experts concluded that these private firms posed the biggest risk to successful government espionage. As the private security firms began publicly releasing and advertising encryption algorithms and other security products, these government experts saw support for their conclusion when an encryption algorithm that government experts could not break began appearing in countless emails.Q. Which of the following, if true, most weakens the conclusion of the government experts referred to above?a)Shortly before the government experts reached their conclusions, two private security companies each claimed to have developed "the world's strongest email encryption algorithm"b)The private security firms' decision to advertise their products and sell them publicly led to other members of the private sector and academia scrutinizing the encryption algorithms.c)An open-source encryption algorithm, developed by an academic and freely available from popular websites, is recognized by numerous ex-government code breakers as the most unbreakable algorithm ever developed.d)An enemy government recently succeeded in placing a spy within the government espionage operations referred to above.e)To strengthen the reputation of the private security firms, employees of these firms publish information about the strength of their products and the benefits of using them.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Years ago, some in the government's intelligence community feared the work of telecommunications researchers at then-emerging private security firms. The government experts concluded that these private firms posed the biggest risk to successful government espionage. As the private security firms began publicly releasing and advertising encryption algorithms and other security products, these government experts saw support for their conclusion when an encryption algorithm that government experts could not break began appearing in countless emails.Q. Which of the following, if true, most weakens the conclusion of the government experts referred to above?a)Shortly before the government experts reached their conclusions, two private security companies each claimed to have developed "the world's strongest email encryption algorithm"b)The private security firms' decision to advertise their products and sell them publicly led to other members of the private sector and academia scrutinizing the encryption algorithms.c)An open-source encryption algorithm, developed by an academic and freely available from popular websites, is recognized by numerous ex-government code breakers as the most unbreakable algorithm ever developed.d)An enemy government recently succeeded in placing a spy within the government espionage operations referred to above.e)To strengthen the reputation of the private security firms, employees of these firms publish information about the strength of their products and the benefits of using them.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for GMAT. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for GMAT Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of Years ago, some in the government's intelligence community feared the work of telecommunications researchers at then-emerging private security firms. The government experts concluded that these private firms posed the biggest risk to successful government espionage. As the private security firms began publicly releasing and advertising encryption algorithms and other security products, these government experts saw support for their conclusion when an encryption algorithm that government experts could not break began appearing in countless emails.Q. Which of the following, if true, most weakens the conclusion of the government experts referred to above?a)Shortly before the government experts reached their conclusions, two private security companies each claimed to have developed "the world's strongest email encryption algorithm"b)The private security firms' decision to advertise their products and sell them publicly led to other members of the private sector and academia scrutinizing the encryption algorithms.c)An open-source encryption algorithm, developed by an academic and freely available from popular websites, is recognized by numerous ex-government code breakers as the most unbreakable algorithm ever developed.d)An enemy government recently succeeded in placing a spy within the government espionage operations referred to above.e)To strengthen the reputation of the private security firms, employees of these firms publish information about the strength of their products and the benefits of using them.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Years ago, some in the government's intelligence community feared the work of telecommunications researchers at then-emerging private security firms. The government experts concluded that these private firms posed the biggest risk to successful government espionage. As the private security firms began publicly releasing and advertising encryption algorithms and other security products, these government experts saw support for their conclusion when an encryption algorithm that government experts could not break began appearing in countless emails.Q. Which of the following, if true, most weakens the conclusion of the government experts referred to above?a)Shortly before the government experts reached their conclusions, two private security companies each claimed to have developed "the world's strongest email encryption algorithm"b)The private security firms' decision to advertise their products and sell them publicly led to other members of the private sector and academia scrutinizing the encryption algorithms.c)An open-source encryption algorithm, developed by an academic and freely available from popular websites, is recognized by numerous ex-government code breakers as the most unbreakable algorithm ever developed.d)An enemy government recently succeeded in placing a spy within the government espionage operations referred to above.e)To strengthen the reputation of the private security firms, employees of these firms publish information about the strength of their products and the benefits of using them.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Years ago, some in the government's intelligence community feared the work of telecommunications researchers at then-emerging private security firms. The government experts concluded that these private firms posed the biggest risk to successful government espionage. As the private security firms began publicly releasing and advertising encryption algorithms and other security products, these government experts saw support for their conclusion when an encryption algorithm that government experts could not break began appearing in countless emails.Q. Which of the following, if true, most weakens the conclusion of the government experts referred to above?a)Shortly before the government experts reached their conclusions, two private security companies each claimed to have developed "the world's strongest email encryption algorithm"b)The private security firms' decision to advertise their products and sell them publicly led to other members of the private sector and academia scrutinizing the encryption algorithms.c)An open-source encryption algorithm, developed by an academic and freely available from popular websites, is recognized by numerous ex-government code breakers as the most unbreakable algorithm ever developed.d)An enemy government recently succeeded in placing a spy within the government espionage operations referred to above.e)To strengthen the reputation of the private security firms, employees of these firms publish information about the strength of their products and the benefits of using them.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Years ago, some in the government's intelligence community feared the work of telecommunications researchers at then-emerging private security firms. The government experts concluded that these private firms posed the biggest risk to successful government espionage. As the private security firms began publicly releasing and advertising encryption algorithms and other security products, these government experts saw support for their conclusion when an encryption algorithm that government experts could not break began appearing in countless emails.Q. Which of the following, if true, most weakens the conclusion of the government experts referred to above?a)Shortly before the government experts reached their conclusions, two private security companies each claimed to have developed "the world's strongest email encryption algorithm"b)The private security firms' decision to advertise their products and sell them publicly led to other members of the private sector and academia scrutinizing the encryption algorithms.c)An open-source encryption algorithm, developed by an academic and freely available from popular websites, is recognized by numerous ex-government code breakers as the most unbreakable algorithm ever developed.d)An enemy government recently succeeded in placing a spy within the government espionage operations referred to above.e)To strengthen the reputation of the private security firms, employees of these firms publish information about the strength of their products and the benefits of using them.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Years ago, some in the government's intelligence community feared the work of telecommunications researchers at then-emerging private security firms. The government experts concluded that these private firms posed the biggest risk to successful government espionage. As the private security firms began publicly releasing and advertising encryption algorithms and other security products, these government experts saw support for their conclusion when an encryption algorithm that government experts could not break began appearing in countless emails.Q. Which of the following, if true, most weakens the conclusion of the government experts referred to above?a)Shortly before the government experts reached their conclusions, two private security companies each claimed to have developed "the world's strongest email encryption algorithm"b)The private security firms' decision to advertise their products and sell them publicly led to other members of the private sector and academia scrutinizing the encryption algorithms.c)An open-source encryption algorithm, developed by an academic and freely available from popular websites, is recognized by numerous ex-government code breakers as the most unbreakable algorithm ever developed.d)An enemy government recently succeeded in placing a spy within the government espionage operations referred to above.e)To strengthen the reputation of the private security firms, employees of these firms publish information about the strength of their products and the benefits of using them.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice GMAT tests.
Explore Courses for GMAT exam

Top Courses for GMAT

Explore Courses
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev