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A proposed ordinance requires the installation in new homes of sprinklers automatically triggered by the presence of a fire. However, a home builder argued that because more than ninety percent of residential fires are extinguished by a household member, residential sprinklers would only marginally decrease property damage caused by residential fires.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the home builder's argument?
  • a)
    most individuals have no formal training in how to extinguish fires.
  • b)
    Since new homes are only a tiny percentage of available housing in the city, the new ordinance would be extremely narrow in scope.
  • c)
    The installation of smoke detectors in new residences costs significantly less than the installation of sprinklers.
  • d)
    In the city where the ordinance was proposed, the average time required by the fire department to respond to a fire was less than the national average.
  • e)
    The largest proportion of property damage that results from residential fires is caused by fires that start when no household member is present.
Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
A proposed ordinance requires the installation in new homes of sprinkl...
The home builder reasons from evidence about most residential fires to a conclusion about the effectiveness of sprinklers in preventing property damage. But this reasoning is faulty because of the possibility that most of the property damage results from the minority of fires excluded from the builder's evidence. That possibility is realized if E is true. Thus, E is the best answer
Because the builder's argument concerns neither the cost of installing sprinklers not a comparison with fire department performance in other locations, C and D are irrelevant. The evidence the home builder cites suggests that formal training is not needed in order to extinguish fires. So A is not the correct answer. B supports the builder's view that requiring sprinklers would have a limited effect. 
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A proposed ordinance requires the installation in new homes of sprinklers automatically triggered by the presence of a fire. However, a home builder argued that because more than ninety percent of residential fires are extinguished by a household member, residential sprinklers would only marginally decrease property damage caused by residential fires.Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the home builder's argument?a)most individuals have no formal training in how to extinguish fires.b)Since new homes are only a tiny percentage of available housing in the city, the new ordinance would be extremely narrow in scope.c)The installation of smoke detectors in new residences costs significantly less than the installation of sprinklers.d)In the city where the ordinance was proposed, the average time required by the fire department to respond to a fire was less than the national average.e)The largest proportion of property damage that results from residential fires is caused by fires that start when no household member is present.Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer?
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A proposed ordinance requires the installation in new homes of sprinklers automatically triggered by the presence of a fire. However, a home builder argued that because more than ninety percent of residential fires are extinguished by a household member, residential sprinklers would only marginally decrease property damage caused by residential fires.Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the home builder's argument?a)most individuals have no formal training in how to extinguish fires.b)Since new homes are only a tiny percentage of available housing in the city, the new ordinance would be extremely narrow in scope.c)The installation of smoke detectors in new residences costs significantly less than the installation of sprinklers.d)In the city where the ordinance was proposed, the average time required by the fire department to respond to a fire was less than the national average.e)The largest proportion of property damage that results from residential fires is caused by fires that start when no household member is present.Correct answer is option 'E'. 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 A proposed ordinance requires the installation in new homes of sprinklers automatically triggered by the presence of a fire. However, a home builder argued that because more than ninety percent of residential fires are extinguished by a household member, residential sprinklers would only marginally decrease property damage caused by residential fires.Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the home builder's argument?a)most individuals have no formal training in how to extinguish fires.b)Since new homes are only a tiny percentage of available housing in the city, the new ordinance would be extremely narrow in scope.c)The installation of smoke detectors in new residences costs significantly less than the installation of sprinklers.d)In the city where the ordinance was proposed, the average time required by the fire department to respond to a fire was less than the national average.e)The largest proportion of property damage that results from residential fires is caused by fires that start when no household member is present.Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for A proposed ordinance requires the installation in new homes of sprinklers automatically triggered by the presence of a fire. However, a home builder argued that because more than ninety percent of residential fires are extinguished by a household member, residential sprinklers would only marginally decrease property damage caused by residential fires.Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the home builder's argument?a)most individuals have no formal training in how to extinguish fires.b)Since new homes are only a tiny percentage of available housing in the city, the new ordinance would be extremely narrow in scope.c)The installation of smoke detectors in new residences costs significantly less than the installation of sprinklers.d)In the city where the ordinance was proposed, the average time required by the fire department to respond to a fire was less than the national average.e)The largest proportion of property damage that results from residential fires is caused by fires that start when no household member is present.Correct answer is option 'E'. Can you explain this answer?.
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However, a home builder argued that because more than ninety percent of residential fires are extinguished by a household member, residential sprinklers would only marginally decrease property damage caused by residential fires.Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the home builder's argument?a)most individuals have no formal training in how to extinguish fires.b)Since new homes are only a tiny percentage of available housing in the city, the new ordinance would be extremely narrow in scope.c)The installation of smoke detectors in new residences costs significantly less than the installation of sprinklers.d)In the city where the ordinance was proposed, the average time required by the fire department to respond to a fire was less than the national average.e)The largest proportion of property damage that results from residential fires is caused by fires that start when no household member is present.Correct answer is option 'E'. 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However, a home builder argued that because more than ninety percent of residential fires are extinguished by a household member, residential sprinklers would only marginally decrease property damage caused by residential fires.Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the home builder's argument?a)most individuals have no formal training in how to extinguish fires.b)Since new homes are only a tiny percentage of available housing in the city, the new ordinance would be extremely narrow in scope.c)The installation of smoke detectors in new residences costs significantly less than the installation of sprinklers.d)In the city where the ordinance was proposed, the average time required by the fire department to respond to a fire was less than the national average.e)The largest proportion of property damage that results from residential fires is caused by fires that start when no household member is present.Correct answer is option 'E'. 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However, a home builder argued that because more than ninety percent of residential fires are extinguished by a household member, residential sprinklers would only marginally decrease property damage caused by residential fires.Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the home builder's argument?a)most individuals have no formal training in how to extinguish fires.b)Since new homes are only a tiny percentage of available housing in the city, the new ordinance would be extremely narrow in scope.c)The installation of smoke detectors in new residences costs significantly less than the installation of sprinklers.d)In the city where the ordinance was proposed, the average time required by the fire department to respond to a fire was less than the national average.e)The largest proportion of property damage that results from residential fires is caused by fires that start when no household member is present.Correct answer is option 'E'. 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However, a home builder argued that because more than ninety percent of residential fires are extinguished by a household member, residential sprinklers would only marginally decrease property damage caused by residential fires.Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the home builder's argument?a)most individuals have no formal training in how to extinguish fires.b)Since new homes are only a tiny percentage of available housing in the city, the new ordinance would be extremely narrow in scope.c)The installation of smoke detectors in new residences costs significantly less than the installation of sprinklers.d)In the city where the ordinance was proposed, the average time required by the fire department to respond to a fire was less than the national average.e)The largest proportion of property damage that results from residential fires is caused by fires that start when no household member is present.Correct answer is option 'E'. 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However, a home builder argued that because more than ninety percent of residential fires are extinguished by a household member, residential sprinklers would only marginally decrease property damage caused by residential fires.Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the home builder's argument?a)most individuals have no formal training in how to extinguish fires.b)Since new homes are only a tiny percentage of available housing in the city, the new ordinance would be extremely narrow in scope.c)The installation of smoke detectors in new residences costs significantly less than the installation of sprinklers.d)In the city where the ordinance was proposed, the average time required by the fire department to respond to a fire was less than the national average.e)The largest proportion of property damage that results from residential fires is caused by fires that start when no household member is present.Correct answer is option 'E'. 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