About a decade ago, computer engineering was a lot more popular than biotechnical engineering as a field of choice for graduate studies. However, in the last few years, biotech has risen rapidly in popularity. Therefore, universities must increase their efforts to gain more students in the field of computer engineering, since, after all, computer-based industries are still the largest in the world today.Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?a)Those who opt for computer engineering in their graduate studies course are most likely to apply for a job in the same field after they graduate.b)Biotechnical engineering has seen an unprecedented growth in the number of new companies that have sprung up in the field over the last few years.c)Most software companies insist on hiring only those people who have a masters degree in the same field.d)The total number of studentsopting for either computer engineering or biotechnical engineering as a field of choice for graduate studies has increased significantlyover the last few years.e)According to several prominent analysts, the computer-based industry is the largest in the world by far, with medicine and its related fields coming in at a distant second.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

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Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?

a)
Those who opt for computer engineering in their graduate studies course are most likely to apply for a job in the same field after they graduate.
b)
Biotechnical engineering has seen an unprecedented growth in the number of new companies that have sprung up in the field over the last few years.
c)
Most software companies insist on hiring only those people who have a master’s degree in the same field.
d)
The total number of students opting for either computer engineering or biotechnical engineering as a field of choice for graduate studies has increased significantly over the last few years.
e)
According to several prominent analysts, the computer-based industry is the largest in the world by far, with medicine and its related fields coming in at a distant second.

Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

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About a decade ago, computer engineering was a lot more popular than b...

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?

Argument Analysis

Pre-Thinking

Conclusion Clarification

N/A

Pre-Thinking Approach

Let’s see how we can make the conclusion less believable. To do so, we will look at the logical structure, focusing on linkage 1. Thus, the way to weaken the conclusion will be to break or weaken this linkage.

Linkage#1

Weakener 1 – What if, even though the proportion of students in CE has reduced, the overall number of students has gone up? E.g. if there were a total of 100 students a decade ago and 60% of them took up CE whereas currently there are 200 students but only 50% take CE. Even then the absolute number of students would increase from 60 to 100. Then efforts might not be needed to gain more students in CE.
Weakener 2 – What if, even though proportion of students in BE has gone up, CE is still the most popular GS course? E.g. BE and CE used to attract 20% and 60% of the students respectively a decade ago and now these numbers have changed to 30% and 52%. Even now CE is the most popular GS course and will produce the highest number of postgraduates who might join computer based industries. So efforts might not be needed to gain more students in CE.

With this understanding in mind, let’s evaluate the answer choices.

Answer Choices

Those who opt for computer engineering in their graduate studies course are most likely to apply for a job in the same field after they graduate.

Incorrect - Irrelevant

Even if that’s the case, the argument is based on the grounds that more people need to choose the field in the first place.

Biotechnical engineering has seen an unprecedented growth in the number of new companies that have sprung up in the field over the last few years.

Incorrect - Irrelevant

Even if there are more companies in BE, the passage tells us that computer engineering industries are still the largest. So it doesn’t affect the conclusion.

Most software companies insist on hiring only those people who have a master’s degree in the same field.

Incorrect - Opposite

This choice stresses the need for CE graduates and hence is in the opposite line of thought.

The total number of students opting for either computer engineering or biotechnical engineering as a field of choice for graduate studies has increased significantly over the last few years.

Correct

This choice is written along the lines of our pre-thinking Weakener #1, per Linkage #1.

According to several prominent analysts, the computer-based industry is the largest in the world by far, with medicine and its related fields coming in at a distant second.

Incorrect - No new information

Doesn’t provide new information. The passage already states that the computer based industries are the largest in the world.

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About a decade ago, computer engineering was a lot more popular than biotechnical engineering as a field of choice for graduate studies. However, in the last few years, biotech has risen rapidly in popularity. Therefore, universities must increase their efforts to gain more students in the field of computer engineering, since, after all, computer-based industries are still the largest in the world today.Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?a)Those who opt for computer engineering in their graduate studies course are most likely to apply for a job in the same field after they graduate.b)Biotechnical engineering has seen an unprecedented growth in the number of new companies that have sprung up in the field over the last few years.c)Most software companies insist on hiring only those people who have a master’s degree in the same field.d)The total number of studentsopting for either computer engineering or biotechnical engineering as a field of choice for graduate studies has increased significantlyover the last few years.e)According to several prominent analysts, the computer-based industry is the largest in the world by far, with medicine and its related fields coming in at a distant second.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

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About a decade ago, computer engineering was a lot more popular than biotechnical engineering as a field of choice for graduate studies. However, in the last few years, biotech has risen rapidly in popularity. Therefore, universities must increase their efforts to gain more students in the field of computer engineering, since, after all, computer-based industries are still the largest in the world today.Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?a)Those who opt for computer engineering in their graduate studies course are most likely to apply for a job in the same field after they graduate.b)Biotechnical engineering has seen an unprecedented growth in the number of new companies that have sprung up in the field over the last few years.c)Most software companies insist on hiring only those people who have a master’s degree in the same field.d)The total number of studentsopting for either computer engineering or biotechnical engineering as a field of choice for graduate studies has increased significantlyover the last few years.e)According to several prominent analysts, the computer-based industry is the largest in the world by far, with medicine and its related fields coming in at a distant second.Correct answer is option 'D'. 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 About a decade ago, computer engineering was a lot more popular than biotechnical engineering as a field of choice for graduate studies. However, in the last few years, biotech has risen rapidly in popularity. Therefore, universities must increase their efforts to gain more students in the field of computer engineering, since, after all, computer-based industries are still the largest in the world today.Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?a)Those who opt for computer engineering in their graduate studies course are most likely to apply for a job in the same field after they graduate.b)Biotechnical engineering has seen an unprecedented growth in the number of new companies that have sprung up in the field over the last few years.c)Most software companies insist on hiring only those people who have a master’s degree in the same field.d)The total number of studentsopting for either computer engineering or biotechnical engineering as a field of choice for graduate studies has increased significantlyover the last few years.e)According to several prominent analysts, the computer-based industry is the largest in the world by far, with medicine and its related fields coming in at a distant second.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for About a decade ago, computer engineering was a lot more popular than biotechnical engineering as a field of choice for graduate studies. However, in the last few years, biotech has risen rapidly in popularity. Therefore, universities must increase their efforts to gain more students in the field of computer engineering, since, after all, computer-based industries are still the largest in the world today.Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?a)Those who opt for computer engineering in their graduate studies course are most likely to apply for a job in the same field after they graduate.b)Biotechnical engineering has seen an unprecedented growth in the number of new companies that have sprung up in the field over the last few years.c)Most software companies insist on hiring only those people who have a master’s degree in the same field.d)The total number of studentsopting for either computer engineering or biotechnical engineering as a field of choice for graduate studies has increased significantlyover the last few years.e)According to several prominent analysts, the computer-based industry is the largest in the world by far, with medicine and its related fields coming in at a distant second.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?.

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Therefore, universities must increase their efforts to gain more students in the field of computer engineering, since, after all, computer-based industries are still the largest in the world today.Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?a)Those who opt for computer engineering in their graduate studies course are most likely to apply for a job in the same field after they graduate.b)Biotechnical engineering has seen an unprecedented growth in the number of new companies that have sprung up in the field over the last few years.c)Most software companies insist on hiring only those people who have a master’s degree in the same field.d)The total number of studentsopting for either computer engineering or biotechnical engineering as a field of choice for graduate studies has increased significantlyover the last few years.e)According to several prominent analysts, the computer-based industry is the largest in the world by far, with medicine and its related fields coming in at a distant second.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice About a decade ago, computer engineering was a lot more popular than biotechnical engineering as a field of choice for graduate studies. However, in the last few years, biotech has risen rapidly in popularity. Therefore, universities must increase their efforts to gain more students in the field of computer engineering, since, after all, computer-based industries are still the largest in the world today.Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?a)Those who opt for computer engineering in their graduate studies course are most likely to apply for a job in the same field after they graduate.b)Biotechnical engineering has seen an unprecedented growth in the number of new companies that have sprung up in the field over the last few years.c)Most software companies insist on hiring only those people who have a master’s degree in the same field.d)The total number of studentsopting for either computer engineering or biotechnical engineering as a field of choice for graduate studies has increased significantlyover the last few years.e)According to several prominent analysts, the computer-based industry is the largest in the world by far, with medicine and its related fields coming in at a distant second.Correct answer is option 'D'. 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