Test: Numbers and Percentages - GMAT MCQ

The original argument states that Kobayashi coffee has more caffeine than Marlowe Select coffee and Chula Vista coffee has more caffeine than Valentino coffee. The conclusion drawn is that Kobayashi coffee has more caffeine than Valentino coffee.

Let's evaluate each answer choice:

(A) Marlowe Street coffee has more caffeine than Valentino coffee.
This statement doesn't affect the original argument because it doesn't provide any information about the caffeine levels of Kobayashi or Chula Vista coffee. It's unrelated to the conclusion, so it doesn't make the argument logically correct.

(B) Marlowe Street coffee has more caffeine than Chula Vista coffee.
This statement is also unrelated to the conclusion. Even if Marlowe Street coffee has more caffeine than Chula Vista coffee, it doesn't provide any information about the caffeine levels of Kobayashi or Valentino coffee. Therefore, it doesn't make the argument logically correct.

(C) Marlowe Street and Chula Vista coffees have the same amount of caffeine.
This statement directly contradicts the original argument, which states that Chula Vista coffee has more caffeine than Valentino coffee. If Marlowe Street and Chula Vista coffees have the same amount of caffeine, then Chula Vista coffee can't have more caffeine than Valentino coffee. Therefore, this statement makes the argument logically incorrect.

(D) Kobayashi and Chula Vista coffees have the same amount of caffeine.
This statement doesn't affect the original argument because it doesn't provide any information about the caffeine levels of Valentino or Marlowe Street coffee. It's unrelated to the conclusion, so it doesn't make the argument logically correct.

(E) Chula Vista coffee has more caffeine than Kobayashi coffee.
This statement directly contradicts the original argument, which states that Kobayashi coffee has more caffeine than Marlowe Select coffee. If Chula Vista coffee has more caffeine than Kobayashi coffee, then the conclusion that Kobayashi coffee has more caffeine than Valentino coffee is not necessarily true. Therefore, this statement makes the argument logically incorrect.

The only answer choice that does not make the argument logically correct is (E) Chula Vista coffee has more caffeine than Kobayashi coffee.

Therefore, the correct answer is (E).

Given information:

• Average annual salary for dieticians: $50,000
• Average annual salary for physical therapists: $42,000
• Average annual salary for all Happywell employees: $40,000

(A) There were more physical therapists than dieticians at Happywell last year.
There is no information provided that allows us to determine the number of dieticians and physical therapists at Happywell. Therefore, we cannot draw this conclusion based on the given information. This option is incorrect.

(B) There was no dietician at Happywell last year who earned less than the average for a physical therapist.
This conclusion cannot be drawn based on the given information. The average salary for dieticians is higher than the average salary for physical therapists, but it doesn't guarantee that every dietician earned more than every physical therapist. This option is incorrect.

(C) At least one Happywell employee earned less than the average for a physical therapist last year.
This conclusion can be drawn based on the given information. Since the average annual salary for all Happywell employees is $40,000, which is lower than the average annual salary for physical therapists ($42,000), we can conclude that at least one Happywell employee earned less than the average for a physical therapist. This option is correct.

(D) At least one physical therapist earned less than the lowest-paid Happywell dietician last year.
We don't have any information about the lowest-paid Happywell dietician or the specific salaries of individual employees. Therefore, we cannot determine whether any physical therapist earned less than the lowest-paid dietician. This option is incorrect.

(E) At least one dietician earned more than the highest-paid Happywell physical therapist last year.
We cannot determine the specific salaries of individual dieticians or physical therapists from the given information. Therefore, we cannot draw this conclusion. This option is incorrect.

In conclusion, the correct answer is (C) - At least one Happywell employee earned less than the average for a physical therapist last year.

The information states that the total market value of real estate in Altonville has steadily declined over the past four years. As a result, the assessed value of the real estate, which is used to calculate property taxes, has also declined. It is also mentioned that the percentage of assessed value paid as property taxes to the city did not change during this period.

Now let's evaluate each answer choice:

(A) Money collected from property taxes provided most of Altonville’s revenue during the past four years.
There is no information provided about the proportion of revenue generated by property taxes compared to other sources. Therefore, we cannot conclude that property taxes provided most of Altonville's revenue.

(B) The percentage of Altonville’s overall revenue that was collected from property taxes did not change over the past four years.
The information does not mention anything about Altonville's overall revenue or the percentage contributed by property taxes. We cannot determine whether the percentage of revenue from property taxes remained constant or not.

(C) Altonville officials had proposed raising property tax rates during the past four years but never did so because of strong opposition from property owners.
There is no information provided about any proposals to raise property tax rates or opposition from property owners. This statement cannot be inferred from the given information.

(D) The total amount of revenue that Altonville has collected from property taxes has declined over the past four years.
This statement can be inferred from the information provided. Since the total market value of real estate has declined, and the assessed value of real estate is used to calculate property taxes, it follows that the total revenue from property taxes would also decline.

(E) During the past four years, Altonville officials also did not increase tax rates on other sources of revenue such as retail sales or business profits.
The information only discusses the decline in property values and the related property taxes. There is no mention of tax rates on other sources of revenue. We cannot conclude whether tax rates on other revenue sources remained constant or changed.

Based on the given information, the statement most strongly supported is (D) The total amount of revenue that Altonville has collected from property taxes has declined over the past four years.

Argument: The theatergoer claims that Megaplex's claim of decreased popcorn sales due to the switch from coconut oil to canola oil is false because Megaplex's own sales figures show a 5% increase in popcorn sales last year compared to the previous year.

We need to find an answer choice that weakens the theatergoer's argument by showing that the increase in popcorn sales may not be due to the switch back to coconut oil.

Let's evaluate each answer choice:

(A) Total sales of all refreshments at Megaplex's movie theaters increased by less than 5 percent last year.
This answer choice suggests that the overall increase in sales was less than 5%, which weakens the theatergoer's argument. However, it does not directly address the impact of the switch in oil on popcorn sales.

(B) Megaplex makes more money on food and beverages sold at its theaters than it does on sales of movie tickets.
This answer choice does not directly address the impact of the switch in oil on popcorn sales, so it is not relevant to the argument.

(C) Megaplex customers prefer the taste of popcorn popped in coconut oil to that of popcorn popped in canola oil.
This answer choice supports the theatergoer's argument by suggesting that customers' preference for coconut oil could have contributed to the increase in popcorn sales. It does not weaken the argument.

(D) Total attendance at Megaplex's movie theaters was more than 20 percent higher last year than the year before.
This answer choice weakens the theatergoer's argument. If total attendance increased significantly, it suggests that the increase in popcorn sales could be attributed to the higher number of moviegoers rather than the switch in oil.

(E) The year before last, Megaplex experienced a 10 percent increase in popcorn sales over the previous year.
This answer choice does not provide relevant information about the impact of the switch in oil on popcorn sales. It is not directly related to the argument.

Therefore, the answer choice that most seriously weakens the theatergoer's argument is (D) Total attendance at Megaplex's movie theaters was more than 20 percent higher last year than the year before.

Let's go through each answer choice and analyze them to determine the one that best explains the discrepancy between the reported percentages.

(A) Garments with minor blemishes are sent to wholesale outlets for sale at discounted prices and are not returned for recycling.
This answer choice suggests that some defective garments are not included in the reported percentage of unsalable garments. While this could contribute to the discrepancy, it does not explain why the reported percentage of recycled scrap is higher than the reported percentage of unsalable garments. Therefore, this choice is not the best explanation for the discrepancy.

(B) The percentage of garments returned by retail outlets as unsalable includes, in addition to defective merchandise, garments in unacceptable styles or colors.
This answer choice suggests that the reported percentage of unsalable garments includes not only defective garments but also garments that are returned due to style or color issues. If this is true, it would explain why the reported percentage of unsalable garments is lower than the reported percentage of recycled scrap. This choice provides a plausible explanation for the discrepancy and is a strong contender.

(C) Some inspectors, in order to appear more efficient, tend to overreport defects.
This answer choice suggests that the reported percentage of defective garments might be higher than the actual percentage due to inspectors exaggerating the number of defects. While this could contribute to the discrepancy, it does not explain why the reported percentage of recycled scrap is higher than the reported percentage of unsalable garments. Therefore, this choice is not the best explanation for the discrepancy.

(D) The total number of garments produced by the manufacturer has increased slightly over the past year.
This answer choice provides information about the increase in the total number of garments produced but does not directly explain the discrepancy between the reported percentages. It does not address why the reported percentage of recycled scrap is higher than the reported percentage of unsalable garments. Thus, this choice does not sufficiently explain the discrepancy.

(E) Unsalable garments are recorded by count, but recycled garments are recorded by weight.
This answer choice suggests that the discrepancy arises from a difference in how unsalable garments and recycled scrap are measured. If unsalable garments are recorded by count while recycled garments are measured by weight, it is possible that the weight of the recycled scrap exceeds the count of unsalable garments, leading to a higher reported percentage for recycled scrap. This choice provides a plausible explanation for the discrepancy and is the most likely answer.

Therefore, the best answer choice that could contribute most to explaining the discrepancy between the reported percentages is (E) Unsalable garments are recorded by count, but recycled garments are recorded by weight.

Let's analyze each answer choice and determine which one weakens the author's claim:

(A) Most visitors to one museum also visit the other two.
If most visitors to one museum also visit the other two, it suggests that the increase in ticket sales is not due to more citizens enjoying the arts, but rather to the same citizens visiting multiple museums. This weakens the author's claim that more than twice as many citizens are now enjoying the arts because it implies that the increase in ticket sales may not reflect an increase in unique visitors.

(B) The cost of building the museums will not be covered by revenues generated by the sale of museum tickets.
This answer choice discusses the financial aspect of building the museums but does not directly address the number of citizens enjoying the arts. Therefore, it does not weaken the author's claim.

(C) As the two new museums become better known, even more citizens will visit them.
This answer choice supports the author's claim by suggesting that more citizens will visit the museums in the future. It does not weaken the claim that more than twice as many citizens are currently enjoying the arts.

(D) The city’s Fine Arts Museum did not experience a decrease in single-entry tickets sold in 1986.
This answer choice does not weaken the author's claim but rather supports it. If the Fine Arts Museum did not experience a decrease in ticket sales, it indicates that the new museums did not negatively impact its attendance.

(E) Fewer museum entry tickets were sold in 1986 than the museum planners had hoped to sell.
This answer choice does not weaken the author's claim that more than twice as many citizens are enjoying the arts. It discusses the sales compared to the planners' expectations but does not provide information about the actual number of citizens enjoying the arts.

Therefore, the answer choice that most seriously weakens the author's assertion that more than twice as many citizens are now enjoying the arts is (A) Most visitors to one museum also visit the other two.