GMAT Exam  >  GMAT Questions  >  Which of the following best completes the pas... Start Learning for Free
Which of the following best completes the passage below?

In a survey of job applicants, two-fifths admitted to being at least a little dishonest. However,
the survey may underestimate the proportion of job applicants who are dishonest,
because____.
  • a)
    some dishonest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to be honest
  • b)
    some generally honest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to bedishonest
  • c)
    some people who claimed on the survey to be at least a little dishonest may be verydishonest
  • d)
    some people who claimed on the survey to be dishonest may have been answeringhonestly
  • e)
    some people who are not job applicants are probably at least a little dishonest
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Which of the following best completes the passage below?In a survey of...
A is the best answer.
If applicants who are in fact dishonest claimed to be honest, the survey results would show a
smaller proportion of dishonest applicants than actually exists. Therefore, this choice is the
best answer.
B is inappropriate because generally honest applicants who claimed to be
dishonest could contribute to the overestimation, but not to the underestimation, of dishonest
applicants.
D is inappropriate because applicants who admitted their dishonesty would not
contribute to an underestimation of the proportion of dishonest applicants.
C and E are
inappropriate because the argument is concerned neither with degrees of dishonesty nor with
the honesty of non-applicants.
View all questions of this test
Most Upvoted Answer
Which of the following best completes the passage below?In a survey of...
Explanation:

Introduction:
The passage discusses a survey conducted on job applicants, where two-fifths of the respondents admitted to being at least a little dishonest. However, the passage argues that this survey may underestimate the proportion of job applicants who are dishonest. The question asks for the reason why this may be the case.

Option Analysis:
Let's analyze each option to determine the best completion for the passage:

a) Some dishonest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to be honest.
- This option suggests that some dishonest individuals may have lied on the survey and claimed to be honest. This would lead to an underestimation of the proportion of job applicants who are dishonest, as the survey results would not accurately reflect their true behavior. This supports the argument made in the passage and provides a valid reason for the underestimation.

b) Some generally honest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to be dishonest.
- This option suggests that some generally honest individuals may have lied on the survey and claimed to be dishonest. While this introduces the possibility of overestimating the proportion of job applicants who are dishonest, it does not address the argument made in the passage about underestimation. Therefore, this option is not the best completion for the passage.

c) Some people who claimed on the survey to be at least a little dishonest may be very dishonest.
- This option does not address the issue of underestimation. It introduces the possibility that some individuals who claimed to be a little dishonest may actually be very dishonest, but it does not explain why the survey may underestimate the proportion of dishonest job applicants. Therefore, this option is not the best completion for the passage.

d) Some people who claimed on the survey to be dishonest may have been answering honestly.
- This option suggests that some individuals who claimed to be dishonest may have been truthful in their responses. While this introduces the possibility of accuracy in the survey results, it does not address the argument made in the passage about underestimation. Therefore, this option is not the best completion for the passage.

e) Some people who are not job applicants are probably at least a little dishonest.
- This option introduces a new group of individuals who are not job applicants. However, it does not explain why the survey may underestimate the proportion of dishonest job applicants. Therefore, this option is not the best completion for the passage.

Conclusion:
After analyzing all the options, option a) stands out as the best completion for the passage. It provides a valid reason for the underestimation of the proportion of job applicants who are dishonest by suggesting that some dishonest individuals may have lied on the survey, claiming to be honest.
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

Top Courses for GMAT

Which of the following best completes the passage below?In a survey of job applicants, two-fifths admitted to being at least a little dishonest. However,the survey may underestimate the proportion of job applicants who are dishonest,because____.a)some dishonest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to be honestb)some generally honest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to bedishonestc)some people who claimed on the survey to be at least a little dishonest may be verydishonestd)some people who claimed on the survey to be dishonest may have been answeringhonestlye)some people who are not job applicants are probably at least a little dishonestCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
Which of the following best completes the passage below?In a survey of job applicants, two-fifths admitted to being at least a little dishonest. However,the survey may underestimate the proportion of job applicants who are dishonest,because____.a)some dishonest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to be honestb)some generally honest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to bedishonestc)some people who claimed on the survey to be at least a little dishonest may be verydishonestd)some people who claimed on the survey to be dishonest may have been answeringhonestlye)some people who are not job applicants are probably at least a little dishonestCorrect answer is option 'A'. 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 Which of the following best completes the passage below?In a survey of job applicants, two-fifths admitted to being at least a little dishonest. However,the survey may underestimate the proportion of job applicants who are dishonest,because____.a)some dishonest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to be honestb)some generally honest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to bedishonestc)some people who claimed on the survey to be at least a little dishonest may be verydishonestd)some people who claimed on the survey to be dishonest may have been answeringhonestlye)some people who are not job applicants are probably at least a little dishonestCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Which of the following best completes the passage below?In a survey of job applicants, two-fifths admitted to being at least a little dishonest. However,the survey may underestimate the proportion of job applicants who are dishonest,because____.a)some dishonest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to be honestb)some generally honest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to bedishonestc)some people who claimed on the survey to be at least a little dishonest may be verydishonestd)some people who claimed on the survey to be dishonest may have been answeringhonestlye)some people who are not job applicants are probably at least a little dishonestCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Which of the following best completes the passage below?In a survey of job applicants, two-fifths admitted to being at least a little dishonest. However,the survey may underestimate the proportion of job applicants who are dishonest,because____.a)some dishonest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to be honestb)some generally honest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to bedishonestc)some people who claimed on the survey to be at least a little dishonest may be verydishonestd)some people who claimed on the survey to be dishonest may have been answeringhonestlye)some people who are not job applicants are probably at least a little dishonestCorrect answer is option 'A'. 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 Which of the following best completes the passage below?In a survey of job applicants, two-fifths admitted to being at least a little dishonest. However,the survey may underestimate the proportion of job applicants who are dishonest,because____.a)some dishonest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to be honestb)some generally honest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to bedishonestc)some people who claimed on the survey to be at least a little dishonest may be verydishonestd)some people who claimed on the survey to be dishonest may have been answeringhonestlye)some people who are not job applicants are probably at least a little dishonestCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Which of the following best completes the passage below?In a survey of job applicants, two-fifths admitted to being at least a little dishonest. However,the survey may underestimate the proportion of job applicants who are dishonest,because____.a)some dishonest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to be honestb)some generally honest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to bedishonestc)some people who claimed on the survey to be at least a little dishonest may be verydishonestd)some people who claimed on the survey to be dishonest may have been answeringhonestlye)some people who are not job applicants are probably at least a little dishonestCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Which of the following best completes the passage below?In a survey of job applicants, two-fifths admitted to being at least a little dishonest. However,the survey may underestimate the proportion of job applicants who are dishonest,because____.a)some dishonest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to be honestb)some generally honest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to bedishonestc)some people who claimed on the survey to be at least a little dishonest may be verydishonestd)some people who claimed on the survey to be dishonest may have been answeringhonestlye)some people who are not job applicants are probably at least a little dishonestCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Which of the following best completes the passage below?In a survey of job applicants, two-fifths admitted to being at least a little dishonest. However,the survey may underestimate the proportion of job applicants who are dishonest,because____.a)some dishonest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to be honestb)some generally honest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to bedishonestc)some people who claimed on the survey to be at least a little dishonest may be verydishonestd)some people who claimed on the survey to be dishonest may have been answeringhonestlye)some people who are not job applicants are probably at least a little dishonestCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Which of the following best completes the passage below?In a survey of job applicants, two-fifths admitted to being at least a little dishonest. However,the survey may underestimate the proportion of job applicants who are dishonest,because____.a)some dishonest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to be honestb)some generally honest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to bedishonestc)some people who claimed on the survey to be at least a little dishonest may be verydishonestd)some people who claimed on the survey to be dishonest may have been answeringhonestlye)some people who are not job applicants are probably at least a little dishonestCorrect answer is option 'A'. 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