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Two students were given practice exams. One exam ordered the questions from hardest to easiest, while the other exam ordered the questions from easiest to hardest. The student who took the test with questions ordered hardest to easiest performed more poorly than the other student. Therefore, tests that ordered hardest to easiest will cause a student to perform more poorly.
Q. This argument is most vulnerable to criticism if which of the following statements is true?
  • a)
    The students took the exam in different classrooms, one of which was more spacious.
  • b)
    One student was from Los Angeles, while the other student was from New York.
  • c)
    The students had the same grade point averages.
  • d)
    The student who performed more poorly has a lower grade point average than the other student.
  • e)
    The test consisted solely of math questions, rather than being a blend of content.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Two students were given practice exams. One exam ordered the questions...
The conclusion of this argument is that when questions are ordered hardest to easiest, students perform more poorly on them. In order to refute this causal assertion, another source of the poor performance must be introduced. The fact that the student who performed more poorly has a lower grade point average than the other student is a significant intervening cause, and therefore the correct answer.
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Community Answer
Two students were given practice exams. One exam ordered the questions...
Understanding the Argument
The argument presents a comparison between two students who took exams ordered differently. One student, who took the hardest-to-easiest exam, performed poorly compared to the other student. The conclusion drawn is that the ordering of the questions negatively impacts performance.
Vulnerability of the Argument
The argument's conclusion is susceptible to flaws, especially if certain statements are true.
Why Option D is Key
- If the student who performed poorly (on the hardest-to-easiest exam) has a lower grade point average (GPA) than the other student, it suggests that this student may have inherently lower academic ability or preparedness.
- This implies that the performance discrepancy might be due to the student's overall skill level rather than the order of the questions.
- Thus, the argument fails to establish a direct causal link between the question order and performance, as the student's baseline abilities could be the real factor impacting their results.
Examining Other Options
- Option A: Classroom differences may affect comfort but do not directly relate to question order impact.
- Option B: Geographic background (Los Angeles vs. New York) is irrelevant to exam performance based on question ordering.
- Option C: Similar GPAs suggest equal ability, making the argument less vulnerable but not as critical as D.
- Option E: If the test were solely math questions, it does not address the core issue of performance linked to question order.
Conclusion
Therefore, option D is the most critical statement that could undermine the argument, as it directly relates to the student’s capabilities rather than the exam structure.
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Two students were given practice exams. One exam ordered the questions from hardest to easiest, while the other exam ordered the questions from easiest to hardest. The student who took the test with questions ordered hardest to easiest performed more poorly than the other student. Therefore, tests that ordered hardest to easiest will cause a student to perform more poorly.Q. This argument is most vulnerable to criticism if which of the following statements is true?a)The students took the exam in different classrooms, one of which was more spacious.b)One student was from Los Angeles, while the other student was from New York.c)The students had the same grade point averages.d)The student who performed more poorly has a lower grade point average than the other student.e)The test consisted solely of math questions, rather than being a blend of content.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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Two students were given practice exams. One exam ordered the questions from hardest to easiest, while the other exam ordered the questions from easiest to hardest. The student who took the test with questions ordered hardest to easiest performed more poorly than the other student. Therefore, tests that ordered hardest to easiest will cause a student to perform more poorly.Q. This argument is most vulnerable to criticism if which of the following statements is true?a)The students took the exam in different classrooms, one of which was more spacious.b)One student was from Los Angeles, while the other student was from New York.c)The students had the same grade point averages.d)The student who performed more poorly has a lower grade point average than the other student.e)The test consisted solely of math questions, rather than being a blend of content.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 Two students were given practice exams. One exam ordered the questions from hardest to easiest, while the other exam ordered the questions from easiest to hardest. The student who took the test with questions ordered hardest to easiest performed more poorly than the other student. Therefore, tests that ordered hardest to easiest will cause a student to perform more poorly.Q. This argument is most vulnerable to criticism if which of the following statements is true?a)The students took the exam in different classrooms, one of which was more spacious.b)One student was from Los Angeles, while the other student was from New York.c)The students had the same grade point averages.d)The student who performed more poorly has a lower grade point average than the other student.e)The test consisted solely of math questions, rather than being a blend of content.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 Two students were given practice exams. One exam ordered the questions from hardest to easiest, while the other exam ordered the questions from easiest to hardest. The student who took the test with questions ordered hardest to easiest performed more poorly than the other student. Therefore, tests that ordered hardest to easiest will cause a student to perform more poorly.Q. This argument is most vulnerable to criticism if which of the following statements is true?a)The students took the exam in different classrooms, one of which was more spacious.b)One student was from Los Angeles, while the other student was from New York.c)The students had the same grade point averages.d)The student who performed more poorly has a lower grade point average than the other student.e)The test consisted solely of math questions, rather than being a blend of content.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?.
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