Verbal: Strengthen/Weaken Arguments Flashcards
7 cards from real GMAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Verbal: Strengthen/Weaken Arguments flashcards as text
A retailer argues that placing candy near checkouts boosts candy sales because sales rose after the move. Which most strengthens the argument?
Answer: Stores that kept candy in aisles saw no sales change over the same period
A comparison group with no placement change and no sales rise isolates checkout placement as the driver.
A report concludes that gym membership improves health because members are healthier than non-members. Which most weakens the conclusion?
Answer: Healthier people are more likely to join gyms in the first place
Self-selection means the health difference may precede membership rather than result from it.
A manager argues that a bonus program raised sales. Which question would be most useful to evaluate the claim?
Answer: Were there other promotions running during the same period?
Identifying concurrent promotions tests whether something other than the bonus caused the sales rise.
An argument claims a region's economy improved due to a new factory because incomes rose after it opened. Which most weakens this?
Answer: A major highway opened the same year, attracting many other businesses
The new highway is an alternative cause that could explain the income rise apart from the factory.
A scientist argues that a chemical is safe because lab rats showed no harm at low doses. Which assumption does this rely on?
Answer: Effects on rats at low doses predict effects on humans at typical exposure
The safety conclusion assumes the rat low-dose results generalize to human exposure levels.
An author argues that homework improves learning, citing that students who do homework get better grades. Which most weakens this?
Answer: Motivated students both do more homework and study more overall
A common cause—motivation—could drive both more homework and better grades, weakening the direct link.
A company argues that its new software cut customer wait times. Which finding most strengthens the argument?
Answer: Wait times dropped only at branches that installed the software
Improvement confined to branches with the software ties the reduction specifically to the software.